An uplift in pay from £9.50 to £10 has occurred for employees working for the Students Union after the recognition of their value to the University has been highlighted by the Union.
This pay rise has exceeded the recommended rate by the Living Wage Foundation, suggesting £9.50 to be sufficient as it is.
Unite branch secretary, Chris Rawlinson, said: “The University’s commitment to ensure it pays its staff a minimum of £10 per hour is an excellent outcome for our members. We are pleased that we have been able to work with the University to achieve this.”
The negotiations that have been ongoing between the University and Unite Union has highlighted the challenges faced by the lower paid staff and has been said there are more “long term” solutions in the works for the future.
These issues which have been raised through many protests were highlighted recently in last month’s picket lines, organised by the UCU, to draw attention to the gender and ethnicity gaps, falling pay and pension cuts for those at the Union and teachers of higher education also.
Ian Wright, Director of HR at the University stated: “We would like to thank our colleagues in Unite for highlighting the challenges faced by our lowest-paid staff and for working with us constructively to find an immediate solution to this pressing issue, as well as their commitment to work with us and other campus trade unions to develop a long-term solution.”
This outcome has proved successful for the Union, but they are in continuous communication with the University for their needs to be met fairly and effectively.
Morgan McAthur, Sheffield Students Union Activities and Development Officer 2021-2022, concluded on the triumph for the Union: “We’re pleased that we have been able to improve pay levels for many of our valued colleagues. We would like to thank the University for supporting us to make this happen.”
