Rivals claim lead in pay row

Trade unionists and managers both marked the start of the academic boycott of Nottingham University this week by claiming to have the support of staff, writes Claire Sanders.

The Association of University Teachers published the results of a survey of 500 staff polled about the university's plans for pay and grading, which include the introduction of an element of performance-related pay.

The AUT claims that the university is in breach of the national pay and grading framework agreed by the union and universities in March this year.

It has greylisted the institution in protest, effectively initiating an academic boycott.

A spokesman for the AUT said: "These (survey results) show that 72.3 per cent of academic and related staff agreed the university should negotiate a pay and grading system with the AUT."

But the university also reported a review of 500 staff carried out by independent assessors as part of successful departmental bids to retain their Investors in People award.

"The overall result, as well as the detailed anonymously reported feedback, indicates that the new arrangements are well understood and supported," the university said.

The union's greylisting campaign is accompanied by an online petition, which had been signed by some 2,000 people around the world, the union said.

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