University bosses have refused to secure higher education jobs after a meeting with unions.
In a meeting yesterday, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) made no offer to protect jobs across the sector. The University and Colleges Union (UCU) and other trade unions met were looking for assurances that there would not be job-cuts across the higher education (HE) sector.
In a communication to UCU members, general sectretary Sally Hunt revealed a number of points:
- employers make 0.3% pay offer for 2009-10
- employers made NO offer to protect jobs in HE
- unions will join forces to press UCEA for national job security agreement
- bosses have agreed further talks on jobs with unions
After bosses initial failure to respond to calls for assurance that jobs would not be cut, UCU announced that it would ballot it members on strike action. This proposed ballot, alon with the support of other unions in HE has resulted in UCEA aggreeing to further urgent talks.
UCU will issue ballot papers to members on May 1 and said to its members, "[w]ith your help we can defend jobs, and defend higher education. Please make your vote count to protect jobs".
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