University of Sussex - Tutors protest wage cuts

Associate tutors at the University of Sussex who are paid by the hour are protesting after a revaluation of their jobs resulted in pay cuts for some. Hourly paid tutors in some schools have been graded at Level 5 under the national pay spine, which assumes that they do not develop teaching materials themselves. A change to the way the university calculates hourly rates has also resulted in lower earnings in some cases. Sussex intends to review the pay settlement. A University and College Union spokesman from Sussex said: "We are in discussion with university management about establishing the review. Agreement has not yet been reached concerning the scope or form of the review." A university spokeswoman said Sussex had been successful in implementing the new pay structure, and in addressing individual concerns and queries arising from the process. As a result, the majority of concerns have been resolved. "Work continues to reach a satisfactory conclusion for those concerns still outstanding. The Associate Tutor policy review is indicative of the university's continued commitment to staff terms and conditions across the board - a fact also acknowledged by a recent Quality Assurance Agency audit (May 2008) which recognised as 'excellent' the employment and development of Associate Tutors at Sussex," she said.