National Sector Pay Negotiation 2024/25 JNCHES Update – Annual Pay Uplift to Be Implemented in October Payroll

The annual pay uplift will be implemented for colleagues in the October payroll following the conclusion of the national sector pay negotiations for 2024/25.

The University is a member of the national pay negotiation process known as JNCHES (Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff). Through the JNCHES process, the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) negotiates the annual base pay uplift on behalf of around 140 member institutions with the five higher education trades unions (EIS, GMB, UCU, UNISON and Unite).

In July, UCU and UNISON rejected the UCEA offer for 2024/25 and invoked the New JNCHES Dispute Resolution Procedure. Following two dispute resolution meetings, UCEA wrote to the trades unions at the end of August sharing its full and final offer for the 2024/25 pay award.

Reflecting the “challenging financial backdrop” facing the sector, the offer consisted of a staged approach resulting in uplifts ranging from 2.5% to 5.7% across the national single pay spine, with proportional increases weighted towards colleagues at the lower end of the pay spine. This is in addition to any adjustments made to scale points to comply with the National Living Wage. Where appropriate colleagues will continue to receive the already awarded Voluntary Living Wage rate of pay identified as a local allowance on the Single Pay Spine.

Whilst recognising that none of the sector’s recognised trades unions have accepted the award, UCEA has now advised member employers to implement the national pay offer. Due to the ongoing financial pressures and uncertainties facing the sector, institutions have several options of when to implement the award, including whether or not to defer any element of the award or whether to backdate.

Recognising the importance of the annual pay award to colleagues in all areas of the University, the Senior Leadership Team agreed to implement the two-stage award as set out by UCEA in their final offer to the trades unions. This will be actioned in the October payroll.

* An uplift of £900 a year will be applied to all staff from 1 August 2024.

*From March 2025, the remaining balance will be added to spine points to complete the uplift for 2024/25. This second uplift is £300 per year for pay spine points 5 to 22 and £250 per year for spine points 23 to 37. For spine points 38 to 51 and SMG scales the balance of the 2.5% will be paid.

The backdated elements of the pay (1 August – 30 September 2024) will be separately identified on your October payslip (where applicable).

The new spine points structure for 2024/25 can be found in full here.

Please contact PayrollServices@lincoln.ac.uk with any queries.