Pay increase for staff

The University is pleased to confirm that we will be implementing the 2023/24 pay award, resulting in a pay uplift for colleagues in March and August.

Following the completion of our three-year local agreement, during which the University did not participate in the national pay bargaining process, known as New JNCHES, the University has re-joined New JNCHES for the 2023/24 pay round.

As noted in communications about the Phase 1 review meetings, the University did implement agreed pay awards throughout the local agreement, so salaries at UoR remain in line with the sector.

Negotiations

The 2023/24 pay award would normally be implemented as of 1 August 2023. However, in agreement with employers, UCEA commenced the national pay negotiations early due to concerns about the impact of the increasing cost of living.

Employers aimed to agree an interim pay award to be paid before August 2023. It was agreed by UCEA and the trade unions that the pay negotiations would be split into two stages – stage one – pay; stage two – non pay items. Stage one of this process has now concluded and the pay award can be paid.

Whilst the employers’ offer on pay was rejected by the trade unions, all parties agreed to a dispute resolution process facilitated by ACAS. That facilitated process has also reached an impasse and cannot be progressed further, based on a difference between the demands of the trade unions and the level of pay award which can be afforded by the sector.

However, UCEA have recommended that employers go ahead with implementing the pay award, recognising the impact of cost of living inflationary pressures on staff. Talks continue at ACAS on non-pay items, including contract types, workloads and pay gaps.

Pay award

The overall pay offer for 23/24 is for an uplift of between 5% and 8% on spinal points within pay grades, as shown below:

An element of the above percentage will be paid early by way of an interim pay uplift of £1,000 or 2% per annum, whichever is greater. The interim award will be paid with effect from 1 February 2023 with the remainder to be implemented as of 1 August 2023.

The interim pay uplift effective from February 2023 is:

The interim pay award will be processed in March salaries and backdated to 1 February 2023.

Example: For example, a colleague on spinal point 19 (£25,642) will see their FTE salary increase to £26,642 now, backdated to February 1 2023. This will then increase to £27,181 from August 2023 – a 6% total uplift. The increase will be reflected in monthly pay slips and will be on a pro-rata basis for part-time colleagues.

This pay award encompasses the uplift to national minimum wage rates which are due to be increased as at 1 April 2023. Campus Jobs wage rates are being adjusted to take account of national minimum wage changes.

Salaries are currently being updated on the Employee Self Service website. You can view your current salary by clicking ‘View Profile’ and selecting your role on the ‘Employment’ tab.

The updated pay spine, including the interim pay uplift effective from February, is available on the HR web pages.