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On 1 August 2022, the University of Sussex will be implementing the pay uplift recently proposed by The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA).

UCEA, which represents 145 higher education employers including the University of Sussex, conducted collective pay negotiations with the five HE trade unions from March to May 2022. Negotiations took place through the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES).

UCEA made a final offer in early May of an uplift of up to 9% for those on the lowest points of the pay spine, with a minimum uplift of 3% for all those on or above Spinal Column Point 20. UCEA has stated that the offer, worth 3.18% on the sector’s total pay bill, is the highest uplift for the lowest points ever offered in New JNCHES negotiations, recognising the current inflationary pressures. You can read more about the pay round negotiations on the UCEA website.

In addition, UCEA and the trade unions also completed the second and final New JNCHES dispute resolution meeting for the HE pay negotiating round for 2022-23 on 14 July 2022.

Siobhan O’Reilly, Director of HR said: "Recognising the cost-of-living pressures facing staff at the moment, we are implementing the pay uplift from 1 August 2022 and this will be paid in the August pay. We do recognise that there is not union agreement with the proposed pay increase, however we felt it was important to pay the increase in the hope that an agreement is reached at some point in the future.

"We know that some of our staff are struggling right now and this increase (even if not agreed by all parties) will make a difference. By introducing the uplift as soon as possible, we aim to offer some support to those colleagues on the lower end of the pay scale who tend to be disproportionately impacted by current inflation levels."

The implementation of the pay uplift will not impact negotiations underway as part of the joint agreement with UCU.

The updated pay scales from 1 August are available on the HR webpages.