LECTURERS have called for salary rises of at least 4.2 per cent, following recommendations by public sector pay review bodies.
The recommendations last week were for staggered pay awards of 3.8 per cent for teachers and nurses in England and Wales and 4.2 per cent for doctors and dentists.
Association of University Teachers general secretary David Triesman said:
"The review body award for doctors and dentists, as much as the teachers' award, is now our benchmark, and that is what our members will aspire to."
The AUT argues that doctors and dentists in university clinical departments work alongside other higher education teachers and all deserve the same treatment.
It says it is only fair that pay for non-clinical staff involved in medical education should match that of their clinical colleagues.
Unions and employers are still discussing how this year's pay round is to be conducted.
The AUT is adamant that employer support for a pay review body should be part of the settlement, while Natfhe insists these demands should be kept separate.