At our last branch meeting we discussed the pay offer for this year for directly employed University staff – currently at 2%.

The consensus of members was that this was unacceptable. Although higher than previous years, it is still below inflation and thus in real terms constitutes a pay cut.

Obviously this would do nothing to correct the effect of years of sub-inflation payrises – the unions had put in an original claim of 7.5% precisely to start to compensate for our 21% loss of income since 2010.

The meeting agreed to do two things:

  1. On a national level, to support any action taken by UCU and UNISON, who are currently balloting over the pay offer (this closes 27 June).
  2. At a local level, for the branch secretary to write to the University and submit a claim for the University to commit to a minimum rise of 7.5% (in other words, should the national increase be less than this, the University would top it up to reflect the additional expenses of London living and the UoL’s healthy financial position).

We’ll keep you posted re next steps – any questions just drop Danny (dannymillum@iwgb.org.uk) or Rebecca (rebeccadooley@iwgb.org.uk) a line!