Union and university agree tutors pay deal
It'll see some get rises of up to 14%
A union is hailing a major victory for 'underpaid and undervalued' doctoral tutors after agreeing a deal with the University of Sussex.
More than 95% percent of University and College Union (UCU) members have accepted the new new pay and conditions agreement, which will see over half given a pay rise of 14%.
It has moved all of them to grade 6 on the university's pay spine, which also allows them immediate access to sick pay, ten hours of paid training per year and improved pay for preparation work and marking.
Doctoral tutors provide much of the teaching to undergraduate students at the University of Sussex, performing a similar role as graduate teaching assistants and postgraduate researchers at other universities.
The UCU has said the improvements mean a DT teaching two social sciences seminars a week should receive a pay rise of 43%.
They have now called on other universities to emulate the University of Sussex and work with their local union branches to improve the pay and conditions of casualised staff.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said:
"After two years of intense campaigning, bargaining and negotiating, our members have secured a life-changing win for doctoral tutors at the University of Sussex.
"There is more to do but this new agreement provides a solid foundation to provide secure, well-paid jobs to casualised academics.
"It is scandalous that at many universities basic rights like full sick pay and paid training are denied to a huge cohort of the staff that teach and support students.
"Other institutions now need to look to Sussex and work with us to end the scourge of casualisation."