Wage review for lecturers splits unions

LECTURERS unions have failed to agree on a pay claim for staff in new universities, writes Harriet Swain.

Natfhe and the Association for University Teachers will meet next week to try to settle differences over the demands. The unions, which are in regular talks about working more closely together in future, are divided principally over the issue of a pay review body.

The AUT, which is making almost identical pay claims for old and new universities, says it is not prepared to enter a pay claim without a demand for a review body.

Natfhe says bargaining structures should be considered in the new Independent Review Committee, not the pay round. The IRC, set up on the recommendation of Lord Dearing, includes employers, union and independent representatives. It will discuss future structures for agreeing pay.

A spokesman said: "There is an understanding of what the common principles should be, but we are still finalising the claim."

This year is the first time the AUT and Natfhe have met in the Common Interest Group, which coordinates pay claims in new universities. Until now, pay demands in universities created after 1992 have been agreed between Natfhe and the Association of University and College Lecturers, which merged with the AUT last year.

The University and Colleges Employers Association wants all pay claims to be in by February 11.