Universities face disruption in academics' pay dispute

Universities are facing strikes and disruption this autumn after academics threatened to boycott exams and student admissions as part of a dispute over pay.

Universities are facing strikes and disruption this autumn after academics threatened to boycott exams and student admissions as part of a dispute over pay.

Academics have rejected a 2.5 per cent pay increase by university vice-chancellors, arguing that with inflation at 2.3 per cent it would bring no real-terms benefit to staff. The Association of University Teachers (AUT) said it would take "whatever action is necessary" unless a better deal was offered. The decision could mean that academics will disrupt exams, assessments and applications later this year.

Sally Hunt, the AUT general secretary, said: "The academic community is angry and frustrated by years of neglect and under-funding. While we do not relish the prospect of industrial action, it may well be necessary to illustrate the folly behind the belief of ministers that never-ending expansion can be funded on the cheap."

Two other unions, NATFHE and EIS, also rejected the offer. The three associations said in a joint statement that they were "prepared to organise the necessary action to achieve a just and fair pay settlement".

Jocelyn Prudence, representing the employers, said the total offer was worth 2.8 per cent because it included a payment for the "cost of moving to a single interim pay spine" and higher rises for the lowest paid.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills said lecturers' pay was a matter for the universities. She said: "Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and lecturers' pay is a matter for them and the staff unions to settle.

"We are taking forward the issue of future funding for higher education in the current spending review, the outcome of which will be announced in the summer."