Update: 2024-2025 Pay Claim Fully Supported
Thank you to our members for your resounding support of the 2024-2025 Pay Claim. It was made clear by you that this pay claim has the full support and backing of our Branch membership. We have therefore submitted the Pay Claim on March 15th; we await the response of the University Executive Team and the resumption of pay negotiations.
Key Highlights of the Pay Claim:
📈 Meaningful Pay Uplift: Our pay claim proposes a significant uplift of 12.7% over the next 2 years to address the 9.7% Retail Price Index (RPI) rise and the shortfall compared to recent pay increases in the Higher Education sector.
🗓️ Multi-Year Pay Reparation Strategy: We’re suggesting interim pay rises in August 2024, January 2025, and August 2025 totaling 12.7%.
💼 Enhanced Benefit Package: We are also advocating for improved benefits more aligned with hybrid working arrangements, and we have raised again the issue of London weighting.
Why This Matters:
- Financial Context: Faculty members have experienced a significant real terms cumulative devaluation in salary.
- Comparison with HE Sector: Our pay rates continue to lag behind the wider Higher Education sector, exacerbating financial strain.
Member Support and Potential Action
We have a clear mandate on pay with an impressive 93% member support for the pay claim. This support and the strength of feeling in our ongoing pay dispute was also evident in the results of the 2023 consultative ballot concerning pay, indicating members’ willingness to take industrial action. If meaningful commitment to improving pay is not demonstrated by the University, we will have to ballot again to ensure our voices are heard.
The University Executive Team and the Trustees have repeatedly stated that they ackowledge the poor pay at Richmond and their desire to improve it. We say, we now need action! The time is long overdue for rectifying this issue, and we want Richmond to properly reward and recognise the continued loyalty and hard work of faculty in our pay packets.
This pay claim demonstrates our commitment to fairness and sustainability in compensation. We urge the University to prioritize the well-being of its faculty members by engaging in constructive dialogue and reaching a timely agreement.
Thank you to all our members for your unwavering support and solidarity. Together we can make a difference!