Catering Review Now Under way

Following the outsourcing of security it seems that the Catering Services are now the next ones in the firing line.

A draft report from the russell partnership has just been published   (including 11 pages of staff and student comments!) it boils down to a reccomendation of outsourcing.

The trade unions will be committed to the process of fighting to keep UEL Catering in House.

There is a meeting tomorrow with management and we'll be posting more information as we get it.

where did they get the idea from I wonder ?

see  MP's and outsourcing

Vice Chancellor Pay Survey

Whilst our members struggle on being offered £150 you will be pleased to note that this austerity package is not restricted to all members of staff

You will  be interested in the news in the Guardian today regarding Vice Chancellors pay awards  in "elite" universities. 

VC Pay Data

Estates Members Survey

We are collecting information about the pay, terms and conditions of our members working as estates and maintenance staff in Higher Education. It will take just 5 to 10 minutes to fill in but your information helps us to build up a picture of what is happening nationally so that we can campaign better in the Higher Education sector for you.

You can complete the survey by clicking here: http://www.questback.com/unitetheunion/highereducation

If you do not work in estates and maintenance please forward this onto the appropriate Unite representative or member for them to complete http://www.questback.com/unitetheunion/highereducation

If for any reason this link does not work for you then just copy and paste into your browser http://www.questback.com/unitetheunion/highereducation

We have also attached a hard copy of this survey for reps and members who do not have easy access to the internet.

The survey will be open until Friday 10th February http://www.questback.com/unitetheunion/highereducation

Many thanks

Letter to Sister Trade Unions

January 16, 2012

To All Trade Union National Officers covering Higher Education

Dear Colleagues

I have today copied you a letter that I have written to Jocelyn Prudence, Chief Executive, UCEA, advising that Unite intends to continue its dispute with UCEA on the 2011 pay and related items.

It is the intention of Unite members in the higher education sector to maintain the dispute with UCEA by continuing to raise the inadequacy of the UCEA 2011 pay offer when set against the prevailing RPI and the below inflation offers over the last three years.

It is noticeable that the recent Government commissioned review of public sector pay carried out by Will Hutton concluded as one of its findings that the gap between the highest and lowest paid staff was at its greatest in higher education.

You will know also that the work of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that in order to survive on a living wage in the UK in 2011 a single person needs to earn at least £15,000 a year before tax in 2011, to afford a minimum acceptable standard of living. A couple with a single earner and two children need at least £31,600.

The starting salary on scale point 1 was £13203 on the previous scale and even after the latest imposition by UCEA only rises to £13353. This shows the inadequacy of the UCEA pay scales.

Unite members in higher education will continue to press the case for better pay. We hope that your union members will assist us.

Unite intends to raise the profile of pay in higher education. Unite will take the matter on by lobbying or if necessary picketing at higher education workplaces and events.

This letter is a request not to cross Unite picket lines and to join in any organised events designed to raise the profile of the poor pay offers in higher education over the last 3 years.

Unite invites your higher education negotiating committee to join with us on planning how the joint unions in the sector can challenge UCEA on its poor pay offers.

I would be grateful if you can advise whether you and your members are willing to assist?

I look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely

 Mike Robinson

 National Officer

­ Education

 Unite

Letter to UCEA

Ms Jocelyn Prudence Chief Executive UCEA 3rd Floor Woburn House 20 Tavistock Square London WC1H 9HU

Dear Jocelyn

2011 Pay and related matters

This letter is to advise you that last week the Unite national education industry committee again considered the final offer on pay made by UCEA in July 2011 and contained in your email to trade union colleagues on the 5^th January 2012.

As you will know there was an attempt made using ACAS at a meeting on the 15^th December to resolve the dispute on pay and related matters that exists between us.

The ACAS brokered meeting did not resolve the dispute.

The outcome of that meeting and our exchange of correspondence were also considered by the Unite national education industry committee.

This letter is to advise you the Unite national education industry committee voted to continue the dispute and to consider any other appropriate action that Unite members can take to continue to press that the offer of £150 on to salary scales is inadequate when set against the 2011 RPI and other below inflation settlements made over the last 3 years.

I will be in discussions with the Unite national education industry committee on other appropriate action and may communicate with you in due course.

Yours sincerely

Mike Robinson

National Officer

Education Sector

Unite the Union