bargaining in uk higher education ben thomas national officer education and children’s services...
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Bargaining in UK Higher Education
Ben Thomas
National Officer
Education and Children’s Services Unit
Background
UNISON
Largest union in the UK with over 1.3 million members.
Members in local government, health, education and utilities.
50,000 members working in higher education
The History of Higher Education in the UK
•Ancient
•Red Brick
•Plate Glass
•Polytechnics
History
Almost exclusively for the privileged
1961 Education Act
‘The Golden Age’
Expansion
History
1989 first student loans
Fees
Top up fees
Current proposals
Bargaining
• National Bargaining
• 10 separate agreements
• Dearing Report
• Bett Report
Bargaining
• National Agreement 2001
• Single Table Bargaining
• Single Pay Spine
• Job Evaluation
• Harmonisation
Bargaining
• Real Pay Growth
• Reduction in the working week
• Improved conditions of service
•Narrowed the gender pay gap
The Present Day
• 350,000 staff in higher education
• 169 universities
• Broadly 50/50 support staff/Academic
• 50% unionised
• UCU and UNISON largest unions
The Present Day
• HE White Paper
• Fees $14,000 per year
• Change the culture of HE
• Increased competition
• Student Choice
The Present Day
• Increase shared services
• More privatisation
• Minimum wage regulations
• Increasing places in elite institutions
• New providers including for profit providers
The Present Day
• Quotas
•Sponsored Places
• Visa restrictions
• Pensions
Challenges for UNISON
• National Bargaining
• Impact on student numbers
• Jobs cuts and job security
• Privatisation
• Pay
Challenges for UNISON
• Recruitment and organisation
• Recruiting in private companies
• Pensions
• Uncertainty
What are we doing
• Organising
• Campaigning
• Industrial Action
