MPs To Enter University Pay Row

Tue, May 16, 2006

Source: BBC

Some universities have offered their own pay deals.

Some universities have offered their own pay deals.

MPs are to question both sides in the ongoing university pay row which threatens to disrupt thousands of graduations this summer.

Lecturers' unions, the AUT and Natfhe, have turned down a salary rise offer of 12.6% over three years and are continuing to boycott exam marking.

The Commons education select committee will speak to employers and unions from 1030BST on Wednesday.

Talks aimed at ending the dispute ended in failure and recrimination last week.

'A real problem'

Committee chairman Barry Sheerman said: "We want to find out what are the problems and sticking points between the two sides.

"It's a serious situation and hopefully this will do some good.

"There is a danger that, if the dispute goes on, students from overseas will ignore UK courses and opt instead for those in Australia or the US. There's a real problem here."

The Association of University Teachers has warned of "meltdown" unless the dispute is quickly resolved.

The AUT and Natfhe are pushing for a pay rise of about 25%, to make up for losses of "real earnings" during the last 20 years.

The Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA) has increased its offer from 6.1% over two years to 12.6% over three years, but this was rejected last Monday.

A spokesman for the UCEA welcomed the chance to address MPs, saying: "It's an opportunity to tell them what is going on in higher education and see through the propaganda."

'End it quickly'

An AUT spokesman said: "Since the talks last week, the employers seem to have gone to ground. Their being called before the committee to explain why is certainly a positive step.

"Hopefully it means we can end the dispute quickly."

The boycott of exam and coursework marking began in March. The AUT is also refusing to set exam papers.

Queen's University in Belfast is cancelling some of its summer exams because of the industrial action by lecturers.

Vice-chancellor Peter Gregson said all degrees would be awarded but students unhappy with their grades would be able to take an extra exam in the future.

Aberdeen University is offering academic staff a 12% rise over three years and has asked union members who do not want to accept the deal to write a letter to that effect.

Elsewhere, some lecturers have complained of "bullying" by vice-chancellors in an effort to make them resume exam-marking.

The National Union of Students has described as "extremely worrying" the ongoing AUT refusal to set exams, saying it has a "disproportionately destructive impact" on undergraduates. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4985814.stm