Questions about the National Framework Agreement and other general questions
Q: What is the National Framework Agreement (NFA)?
A: In 1999, a report (the Bett report: Independent Review of Higher Education Terms and Conditions) was published which uncovered a number of anomalies in the pay, terms and conditions between different staff groups within Higher Education (HE). In response to this, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA) and all trade unions recognised by the HE sector negotiated the National Framework Agreement for the Modernation of Pay Structures (NFA) with agreement reached in May 2004 with a view to reforming pay structures, grades and some terms and conditions across the sector. In order to accept the NFA, the AUT (the union for Academic and Academic Related staff) negotiated an additional document called The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Certain aspects of the NFA are national agreements, which all Higher Education Institutions (HEI's) have to implement and others are for local negotiation at Birkbeck with our recognised trade unions. One of the main provisions of the NFA is the introduction of a 51-point single pay spine, to which all staff will be assigned. There is also a requirement to introduce an analytical job evaluation scheme across the College.
Q: Where can I find out more information about the NFA?
A: The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) website www.ucea.ac.uk gives a full background to the NFA. If you have a question relating to Birkbeck, please email your question to humanresources@bbk.ac.uk. The trade unions have information for their members and other interested staff:
UCU – www.bbk.ac.uk/ucu
UNISON – www.bbk.ac.uk/unison
Amicus – www.amicustheunion.org
Q: Who at Birkbeck is implementing the NFA?
A: The College's three recognised Trade Unions are working in partnership with the College to agree the way forward for the implementation of the NFA, collectively known as the Framework Negotiation Group (FNG). The FNG comprises:
For Phase 1 of the NFA - Assimilation of Academic, Research, Academic-Related, Professional & Support, Manual, Clerical Staff
College:
Philip Dewe, Vice-Master
Naina Patel, Director of HR
Annette Groark, Deputy Director of HR
Vicky Booker, HR Policy Adviser
Roland Baskeyfield, Projects Officer
Ian Doyle, Financial Accountant
Unions
UCU – for academic and related and research staff
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick, President UCU
Nick Keep
Kate Purcell
Trevor Fenner
UNISON – for clerical and manual staff
Jane Van de Ban, Chair Birkbeck Unison
Harry Lee
Amicus – for technical and craft staff
Maz Iqbal, Chair Birkbeck Amicus
Gita Panchal
For Phase 2 of the NFA - Assimilation of Teaching & Scholarship (Sessional/Hourly Paid) Staff
College:
Philip Dewe, Vice-Master
Naina Patel, Director of HR
Megan Reeves, Deputy College Secretary
Professor Sue Jackson, Pro-Vice-Master Learning & Teaching
Gareth Stirrat, HR Project Manager
Niamh Lynch, Project Manager
UCU:
Rebecca Gumbrell-McCormick
Mike Berlin
Pat Costall
Sarah Lamble
Trevor Fenner
Q: What are the financial implications of this project for the College?
A: This exercise will mean additional costs to the College, yet there is limited additional funding to meet the cost of implementing the NFA. Therefore, the College will need to balance improved benefits to staff pay with what the College can reasonably afford when determining any new pay structure. It is not a cost-cutting exercise.
Q. How will staff be kept informed of progress with this project?
A: Regular updates will be communicated to staff via the project intranet site, all-staff e-mails, staff briefing documents and staff briefing sessions as appropriate.