Unison ballot of members on industrial action on pay
20 Jul 2022
Message from Adèle MacKinlay, Director of People and Organisational Development
In response to the ongoing pay negotiations, Unison has announced that it will ballot its members for industrial action in relation to the Higher Education 2022/23 pay offer.
The ballot will open on 22 July 2022 and close on 26 August 2022.
The national pay offer tabled was up to a 9% increase for colleagues on pay point 19 or lower (£24,871 Grade 4), and a minimum of 3% for colleagues on pay point 20 and above (£25,627) to be paid with effect from 1 August 2022.
UCEA (the national body which negotiates on the sector’s behalf on pay) has confirmed to the trade unions that they will be instructing institutions to pay this offer. Therefore, along with other institutions the University will be implementing the pay uplift to all eligible employees within the August pay.
As we have stated on a number of previous occasions where ballots have occurred, we are extremely concerned that we face the potential for further industrial action.
Any kind of industrial action causes serious disruption for our community, and particularly our students, after what has been an extended period of pandemic upheaval.
Negotiations are conducted at a national level for pay, so we are unable to make changes at a local level. We do recognise how important pay is to colleagues and we take those views very seriously.
We are absolutely committed to the fundamental importance of the University remaining a great place to work, and study. We will be launching our new People and Organisational Development Strategy in the autumn and we were delighted to say thank you to staff for their huge efforts through the pandemic last month.
We will keep you updated on developments with this ballot, with results expected in late August/early September.
Adèle MacKinlay
Director of People and Organisational Development