The annual pay negotiations between the employers’ organisation, UCEA, and the recognised trades unions at a national level have been ongoing since March 2021. The offer of a base pay uplift

of 1.5% with higher increases of between 1.54 percent and 3.6 percent for pay points below Spine Point 22 from 1 August 2021 was made by UCEA on 11 May 2021.

The recognised trade unions in consultation with their members indicated that settlement on the offer made by UCEA was not achievable, and the dispute resolution procedure was invoked. The dispute resolution procedure has now concluded with no agreement having been reached.

UCEA have advised all participating institutions to proceed to implement the pay uplift. The University therefore plans to implement the pay increase effective from 1 August 2021 payable in the August salary.

The 1.5% uplift will be applied to all spinal points of our pay scale from scale point 22 and above, with additional loading for spinal points below 22 in the continuing effort to address salary

differentials within lower grades. Spinal points 2 & 3 will remain unchanged for now as we currently pay at the proposed new level due to the increase applied in November 2020 as part of our commitment as a Voluntary Living Wage Employer.

Full details of the final offer can be found on the UCEA website. Details of the updated pay scales can be found on our HR webpages.


First published: 20 August 2021