{"id":14374,"date":"2016-05-25T11:22:55","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T10:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/?p=14374"},"modified":"2016-05-25T11:24:00","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T10:24:00","slug":"unhappy-university-lecturers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiantoday.com\/index.php\/2016\/05\/25\/unhappy-university-lecturers\/","title":{"rendered":"Unhappy University Lecturers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Staff at Birmingham Universities are committed to a strike running for two-days due to a pay dispute.<\/p>\n

The University and College Union have said: \u201cThe 1.1% rise offered by the universities is \u201can insult\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association said: \u201cThe walkout was disappointing given the very good pay offer\u201d.<\/p>\n

The unions that represent University support staff are contemplating on the offer with a possible strike taking place in Autumn.<\/p>\n

Staff will also initiate a campaign of \u201cworking under contract\u201d, declining to work overtime or doing any unpaid duties such as covering classes for absent colleagues.<\/p>\n

Members of the union have also threatened additional strike action, targeting open days and graduation ceremonies in June and July, if a deal is not reached quickly.<\/p>\n

Superior Union members have warned Universities that staff could potentially boycott the setting and marking of student\u2019s work, if an acceptable offer isn\u2019t made.<\/p>\n

Sally Hunt, the General Secretary said: “A 1.1% pay offer is an insult to hardworking staff, especially in light of the 5% pay rise vice-chancellors have enjoyed while holding down staff pay,”<\/p>\n

She added: “Industrial action which impacts on students is never taken lightly, but members feel that they have been left with no alternative.<\/p>\n

“If the employers wish to see a swift end to this dispute, and avoid further disruption, they need to come back to the table with a much-improved offer.”<\/p>\n

Summer exams are due to finish at the end, although many have already finished. A spokesperson for the employers predicted only “minor impact and minimal student disruption”.<\/p>\n

He said: “Even for examinations which are still taking place at some higher education institutions, more than nine out of 10 report that a no to low impact is anticipated,”<\/p>\n

“We would like to see the UCU consulting its members on the final offer.”<\/p>\n

The employers have said the proposal is “at, and, for some, beyond, a limit of affordability for higher education institutions and the very best offer that will be available this year”.<\/p>\n

They uphold the increment of the offer which means the worst paid university staff will acquire an increase of more than 5%.<\/p>\n

They have also said they have offered discussions on zero-hours contracts and on improving lower pay for female academics.<\/p>\n

UCU are preparing strike rallies in:<\/p>\n