Unison puts pay offer to membership vote

Public service union Unison is to consult its 60,000 members in higher education over a 3.5 per cent pay offer for manual, clerical, technical, professional and administrative staff in universities and colleges.

The union, headed by Rodney Bickerstaffe (below left), had asked for a rise of either Pounds 33 per week or 10 per cent. Elaine Harrison, Unison head of higher education, said: "We will put this latest offer to our members and it will be for them to decide."

The employers have referred Unison's claims for better conditions to the Bett inquiry.