Email to staff and PGRs 16 March 2023

Latest in industrial action

Dear colleagues and postgraduate researchers,

A quick note as some of you may have heard of recent progress in national negotiations on pay, conditions and pensions.

Over the last weeks these negotiations have both intensified and been conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. With that we now have a realistic prospect of moving to a resolution. A summary of the headlines:

• On pensions, UCU and USS Employers (ie UUK) released a new joint statement, including agreement to prioritise the restoration of benefits to pre-April 2022 levels, and to work to bring more stability to the scheme for the coming years. 
  
  
• The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has confirmed ‘constructive’ talks with sector trade unions on new standards and principles on pay spines, workload, contract types, and pay gap negotiations, which has led to a further joint statement between UCEA and the unions. 
  
  The trade unions are now consulting on the outcome of these talks through their internal structures, including an online UCU member consultation on whether to pause action while they formally consider the proposals.
  
  Our understanding is that the strike days scheduled for this week and next will continue whilst UCU members are consulted. The union’s Higher Education Committee will meet tomorrow (Friday) to consider next steps. 
  
  
• You can also now read more about the pay uplift announced earlier this month. To get this uplift into bank accounts, we will be implementing it in our March payroll (including back-dating for February).

Positive progress 

This does look like a pivotal moment. Part of the pay rise for 2023-24 is being implemented now, and UCEA and the sector unions have - for the first time ever - negotiated a framework for addressing pay-related working conditions (the other three ‘fights’). This is something I have been championing for some time now.

And the news on USS is very encouraging. A lot of hard work has gone into all this from all sides, and I hope it will enable us to move to the resolution of this period of dispute. I will continue to do all that I can - sector-wide and here in York - to make the most of this opportunity. 

Best wishes

Charlie