Pay negotiations aimed at bringing strikes in UK universities to an end have stalled at the first hurdle due to a lack of agreement over whether industrial action should be suspended while the talks take place.
The first meeting between the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) and the five higher education unions on 13 December broke up before negotiations had even begun because of a disagreement over “de-escalating the dispute”.
Ucea said it was “disappointed and dismayed” that the unions’ demands have delayed the start of the pay negotiations, which have been brought forward from March in response to concerns about the cost of living for higher education staff.
In response, the unions said they “could not, and would not, cease all industrial action” and urged employers to come forward with an updated offer before Christmas.
