Salary rise protests

Management at Lancaster University came under attack this week as it emerged that the number of senior staff earning in excess of Pounds 50,000 has soared over the past year.

The news comes at the end of a tough year when all university spending was frozen and 140 jobs were shed following a financial crisis which plunged Lancaster deep into the red.

The latest accounts, to be discussed by the university's governing body next week, reveal that 42 members of staff now earn more than Pounds 50,000. A year ago the total was just 13.

In all, 34 university employees were receiving between Pounds 50,000 and Pounds 60,000 with six earning between Pounds 60,000 and Pounds 70,000 and one over Pounds 90,000 in July of this year.

This does not include the newly appointed director of finance or his predecessor. Last year only the vice chancellor earned more than Pounds 60,000.

Over the summer an internal report chronicled "reckless" university management which led directly to the threat of insolvency.

Student union officials were quick to denounce the latest "scandalous revelations".

University secretary Stephen Lamley stressed that the salaries were a snapshot as of July 1997 after two pay rises each of 2.9 per cent, plus a 14 per cent employers' contribution to pensions had tipped more individuals over the Pounds 50,000 threshold.

The Association of University Teachers warned that the salaries could further undermine morale at Lancaster.

Regional official Brian Everett said: "This further underlines our demand for a fair system of independent pay review," said "Pay should not be determined by privilege."