Raising the hurdles

Extra hurdles that the unions will face in arguing for salary rises ("Pay drive faces local hurdles", THES, April 18) include the increases in insurance, national insurance costs and employer contributions to final-salary pension schemes and insurance, as well as the pressure from backlog maintenance. Add that to the cost of the incremental pay awards and promotions and it is easy to understand why universities are not awash with spare cash to meet union pay demands - however legitimate these are.

Michael G. S. Yuille
Chairman, British Universities Finance Directors Group