Special Supplement: A T ACTIO
20-1-89
The current national AUT action on examinations is obvioWlly a matter of great concern. ThiB special Comment supplement 8eU out the national A T and C CP statements to give members of staff background information on the iuues involved. Report COSl more lhan UOlverSllles could afford. Part of it has lud 10 be paid for by utting staff numbers.
FROM THE CVCP AS PUBLISHED 3/1/8Y
UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC A 0 ACADEMIC RELATEO
STAFF SALARIES I
1989
A datement by the University Authorities Panel and lhe Committee of Vice-Chancellors and PrincipalB
6 For next year (1')'691<)0) both sides made a determined ellort to p~r~uad~ the Government to arrest the decl1ne in JI.:JUCI1lIC rJy. In June this year the CVCP and AUT submitted J JUllIl CJ~e for new funds. The case: - chJrted the relative dedine in earnings - wJr.ned that academic pay was again becoming uncompetitIve .
SALARY DECLINE
1. CVCP and UAP are concerned at the continuing dcdlOe in the value of salaries for academic staff which is endangering the ability to recruit, retain and motivate excellen t staff. 2. In February 1987 agreement was reached on the Twenty-
third Report of Committee A which provided increases of
- pointed to superior pay and conditions in foreian ulUversitics and research establishments - showed how academics had fallen behind even the civil service - stn:ssed that recruitmen t and retention problems would become widespread - included the results of the Joint survey of recruitment and retention problems
16% from 1 December 1986 7% from 1 March 1988
so that during the three years begInnmg I A prll I'} 6 <lnd ending on 31 March 1989 the pay of a adenllcs hJS gone up by about 8% a year. This has just about kept pace with lhe growth in earnings in the economy but has done nothing 10 improve the relative pay of academics which now slands at less than 80% of its value a decade ago. RESOURCES COMMITTED TO 1988/89 3. In the Twenty-third Report both ~Ides IIl,HJe It dedr that the additional Government funding was not sufficient and called for more funds for an increase in 1988/89. The Employers stressed that they had committed all the resoun.:es aVJilable up to and including 1988/89. The AUT whilst shOWIng every sign of understanding this nevertheless said they would submit pay claim. The relevant passage from the Twenty-third Report is:
a
'The University Authorities Panel stres~e~ lhal lhe proposals exhaust the funds presently availahle for sdlJry Increases in the financial years 1986/117 to 19 18Y, will Jffecl resoun.:e allocations within universities and no further ml.:reJ~e~ I.:ould be afforded from 1 April 1988 unless new funds .... ere rnJde available for salary increases'. 4. Despite the joint request lhc Governmenl Uld nOl prOVIde more funds for pay in I <)88/89 so no ml.:rea~e In pJy I~ POS~I ble. The money has already been spen l.
5. The Government did provide addlllonJI funds for 'rc~lruct uring' (£155 million over three years ~tartmg m 1'I1l1l/1l9). This has enabled universities to meet the cost of slaff rel.!ul.:tions, through premature retirement, which werc Oldde nel.:cssary because, even with Government help, th~ Twenty-thud
SALARIES IN 1989 7. ('ollowing the Chancellors' Autumn Statement and the corresponding statement by the Secretary of State for Education and Science it is clear that a salary increase can be afforded in 19'69/90. However, the iiS~Cl.\Sment of UAP and CVCP is that the fund~ to be mdde available for general expenditure including expenditure on salaries fall well short of the level of inn.t;on expel.:ted by I April 19119. Indeed they may amount to only about half the sum required. 8. A salary increase at the level implied will not enable universities to recruit, retain and motivate excellent staff. Therefore It has been decided to make a new approach to the Government for additional funds for salaries. 9. I t will enhance the possibilities for success of this new approal.:h if it indudes new salary structure proposals, agreed by both sides, and designed to enhance the ability of institutions to respond to particular recruitment and retention problems. Proposals of this kind are being explored with A UT representatives in urgent discussions.
10. The aIm of the UAP and CVCP is to gain sufficient funds for average earnings to flse to the same extent as elsewhere In the economy ie by about 9%. This earnings increase would be made up of a number of components including a general ~dlJry Incrca~e but also including advancement for some indiViduals and groups in response to particular local needs. I I. A 11 of this work is being undertaken very energetically wHh the object of ensuring that the matter is settled not later than the end ot March 1989. -continued ovcrp.,e