Old universities move to national pay spine

A new national pay spine has come into effect for academic and academic-relatedstaff in the "pre-1992" universities, together with a pay rise delivering a 3% increase on lowest basic salaries.

The changes, which came into effect on 1 August and affect 47,000 workers, are part of a framework agreement negotiated last year by the higher education unions and employers' body the UCEA. The agreement included a "commended" model pay structure but recognised that "some institutions will want to negotiate variants of or alternatives to this, in partnership with their recognised trades unions".

Following industrial action by members of university teachers' union the AUT earlier this year, a memorandum of understanding produced a set of principles - include the protection of career progression expectations - to be adhered to when the framework is implemented by institutions.

These principles have given rise to an national grading model described by AUT as the most "logical and coherent" application of the principles - although it acknowledges that some other interpretations are possible. Local negotiations on implementation are now under way.

There is no national agreement for annual leave. In many cases it is not specified locally, but where determined and agreed it is usually 30 days. The next stage in the national agreemtent will be a further pay rise in August 2005.