AUT has made its 2006 pay claim, and is campaigning for a commitment from employers to put new money from top-up fees and other sources into staff pay. If this pay claim is not met, it could result in the executive committee authorising a ballot on industrial action. The executive committee will be considering the matter at their meeting on 2 December, and AUT needs to have complete confidence that our membership records meet the statutory requirements of such a ballot.
UCEA, the national employers' body has now confirmed that although they are prepared to formally negotiate over AUT's claim for at least one third of extra income to be used to boost pay, they are unlikely to be able to meet us until January. AUT is pleased that the employers have finally agreed to negotiate, but we are very disappointed that they are showing no urgency in arranging a meeting.
Productivity up, pay held down - the case for higher salaries:
AUT and NATFHE are asking politicians to sign a statement in support of our campaign for pay to be prioritised. Download it here: http://www.aut.org.uk/media/pdf/1/r/pbt_salariesstatement.pdf
AUT and NATFHE are asking politicians to sign a statement in support of our campaign for pay to be prioritised. Download it here: http://www.aut.org.uk/media/pdf/1/r/pbt_salariesstatement.pdf
Get the facts AUT/NATFHE parliamentary briefing: http://www.aut.org.uk/media/pdf/o/5/payback_parlbriefing.pdf
Many members have lobbied MPs see
Lots of members are using the 'What they said' part of the AUT website (http://www.aut.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1337)
The latest edition to our gallery is from Salford VC Professor Michael Harloe who said last year:
"Let me make it clear that here at Salford we want to see and will implement if we get the funding (which the new fees arrangements will help to deliver of course) real improvements in pay."
Of course while pay, jobs and other staff conditions are our priorities, everyone understands that some of the extra money should also be used for bursaries and improved facilities. However, many members have contacted AUT campaigns to say that they are amazed at the money that is sometimes wasted by their employers on consultants, PR companies, botched new computer systems, 'campus landscaping' and the like when they say they are hard pressed to fund a pay increase. Send Justine Stephens, AUT, your best examples of this kind of expenditure - confidentially if you like - and we will feature them in future messages.
Pay - MP's sign up to the statement of support:
Signed statements of support from MP's are continuing to flow into the office - but we still need a strong push from members to really make the employers sit up and take notice. We also need more LAs to write to their institution's MP on behalf of their members.
Whatever you do this week, please get involved in the campaign if you can, and remember to send your suggestions and comments to mailto:matt.waddup@aut.org.uk or mailto:justine.stephens@aut.org.uk