The Aber UCU Executive have written to the Vice Chancellor of Aberystwyth University (Elizabeth Treasure) to draw her attention to what we consider a misleading use of statistics by UCEA in recent days.

 

UCEA is the ‘negotiating partner’ on behalf of UK universities in national higher education pay and working conditions negotiations. It is the body that, (after a decade of below inflation pay rises), chose to impose a 3% pay award on higher education staff for 2022/23 and is now imposing a further real terms cut in pay of 5%* on higher education employees for 2023/24 at a time of double digit inflation.

Whether through accident or design misrepresenting the financial situation of higher education institutions to justify the further erosion of salaries for grounds staff, researchers, technicians, librarians, caterers, student support workers, lecturers, cleaners, project managers, farm workers, IT experts and professional administrators undermines trust in UCEA as a partner negotiating with these staff in good faith.

As a Board Member of UCEA we are asking the Vice Chancellor to investigate and help UCEA issue a correction.

 

PDF of the letter here>  UCEA Letter to VC_AUUCU_Exec

 

 

* the UCEA pay uplift rates for 2023/24 vary from 8% for people earning less than £19k, 6% for those earning below £30.5k, and 5% for all staff earning above £31k.