New lecturers could be £12,135 worse off over the first 13 years of their career under the proposed pay and careers framework, the Association of University Teachers claimed this week.
Citing figures extrapolated from pay reforms being implemented unilaterally by Nottingham University, which the AUT opposes, the union said that academic-related staff in old universities could each lose £8,575 over six years.
"The situation at Nottingham should send a shiver down the spine of all higher education staff as what's happening there could happen anywhere under the employers' proposed programme," said Matt Waddup, AUT assistant general secretary.
A university spokesman said the AUT figures were wrong. Nottingham had not yet confirmed its plans for academic staff, he said, and academic-related staff should see pay rise by £9,000 if promotion patterns continued.
He said that 96 per cent of staff affected by the programme had already signed up.