The University participates in annual pay negotiations, held between the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), which represents the 145 Higher Education employers participating in negotiations, and the five sector trade unions. These include UCU, UNISON and Unite, who represent staff here at Southampton.
Owing to the unprecedented financial pressures and uncertainty facing the whole Higher Education sector as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, UCEA is not offering an uplift to the national pay spine for 2020-21.
This means that the University’s pay scales will remain unchanged with effect from 1 August 2020. However, contractual incremental pay progression will continue to apply for those who are entitled to it, with this reflected in pay at the end of this month.
Looking forward, the University remains committed to the national bargaining arrangements and maintaining constructive dialogue with the trade unions.
Although there will be no pay scale uplift for 2020-21, UCEA has offered further meetings to negotiate on the other important non-pay aspects of the joint unions’ claim. If circumstances allow, UCEA has also stated its willingness to begin negotiations earlier than usual for the 2021-22 pay round.
You can read more about this year’s negotiating round on the UCEA website.
