Higher education pay 2026-27

The joint trade unions met with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) on 13 May 2026 to seek an agreement on the 2026/27 pay round. In their claim, the unions called for:

• an increase on all pay points of at least RPI + 3% or £3,000, whichever is the greater
• an increase to bring the minimum hourly rate of pay to £15/hour and for all HEIs to become Foundation Living Wage employers
  a review of the New JNCHES pay spine
• UCEA to work with the unions to develop meaningful and inclusive career pathways for professional services staff
  proceed with joint working on the other three negotiating groups: contract types, workload, and equality pay gaps
• UCEA to work with the joint trade unions to lobby the UK government on Higher Education funding reform
  to convene meetings of the Scottish sub-committee of New
• JNCHES as set out under the New JNCHES agreement
  UCEA to work with the joint trade unions to avoid redundancies

UCEA made an offer of an increase of 2% on all pay points and an offer to enter negotiations to review the national pay spine.

UNISON’s Higher Education Service Group Executive met on 15 May to consider the offer. They agreed that members covered by the New JNCHES negotiations would be consulted on the offer as soon as possible with a recommendation that the offer is rejected.

UNISON members voted overwhelmingly to reject the 2025/26 pay offer in an online consultation that ran from 18 June to 11 July. The joint higher education unions (EIS, GMB, UCU, and Unite) also rejected the offer. It was the lowest offer of all public sector areas. 

Along with other HE unions, UNISON ran a postal ballot for strike action over the 1.4% pay offer. Over 89% of UNISON members who took part voted yes to take strike action over the offer. We also surpassed the 50% turnout required for the results to be valid.

UNISON members in branches that met the 50% turnout threshold took industrial action.