Framework Agreement Associate Tutors

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• Framework Agreement Associate Tutors

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Framework Agreement Associate Tutors

• Background on framework agreement
• Benefits of framework
• Job evaluation
• Associate Tutor grades
• Moving to the new structure
• Timeline for implementation

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Framework Agreement National Picture

• A national agreement to modernise HE pay and
  conditions
• A single national 51 point pay spine
• Local determination of grading structures based
  on job evaluation
• Staff will be rewarded fairly, with equal pay for
  work of equal value
• Market pay may be provided where conditions
  dictate
• Local implementation in partnership with
  recognised trade unions

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Framework Agreement Negotiations at Sussex

• Conducted through the Joint Joint Negotiating
  Committee (JJNC)
• In partnership with the three campus trade unions
  UNITE (AMICUS), UNISON and UCU
• Agreement reached on the grading structure in
  December 2006
• Further negotiations with UCU over Associate
  Tutors in 2007
• Framework Agreement package sent to the trade
  unions National Executive Committees for
  ratification in March 2007
• Trade unions balloted their members for
  acceptance of the package in June
• Approval for funding implementation of the
  Framework Agreement has been given by
  Remuneration and Review Committee of Council

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Framework Agreement Benefits

• Staff rewarded fairly with equal pay for work
  of equal value
• Approximately 2million set aside in the budget
  to fund the Framework Agreement at Sussex
• Salary progression for all grades including for
  Associate Tutors who teach for at least 100 hours
  each academic year
• The new grading structure has been subject to an
  equal pay review by an external expert

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Framework Agreement Job Evaluation

• Posts assigned to grades on the basis of job
  evaluation using HERA (Higher Education Role
  Analysis)
• HERA was specifically designed for Higher
  Education and is used by a large majority of
  Universities
• HERA examines jobs against the same criteria
• Based on a competency approach using 14 elements
• Based on the requirements of the role
• Role profiles produced for Associate Tutors based
  on national role profiles for teaching and
  scholarship

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Framework Agreement Associate Tutor grades

• Associate Tutor roles matched to role profiles by
  Schools
• The majority of Associate Tutor roles have been
  matched to the role profile for Grade 5
• Some Associate Tutor roles have been matched to
  the role profiles for Grades 6 and 7

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Moving to the new structure

• Associate Tutors move to the first spine point
  within the new grade
• All work carried out will be paid at the
  appropriate hourly rate for that grade
• Incremental progression on an annual basis to the
  new grade maximum Associate Tutors will be
  eligible to increment on 1 October each year
  subject to having taught for a minimum of 100
  hours in the preceding academic year

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Calculating the hourly rate

• The appropriate hourly rate for an ATs role is
  calculated using the formula
• Basic hourly rate rate for 1st spinal point
  in grade
• (52 x 36.5)
• Where 36.5 hours is the working week for staff on
  defined working hours (Grades 1-6). For ATs on
  grade 7 and above, the divisor is (52 x 37.5)

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Hourly rates as at 1 January 2008

• Grade 5 11.09 per hour
• Grade 6 12.86 per hour
• Grade 7 14.09 per hour
• These rates do not include holiday pay.

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Standard multipliers

• The Schools have agreed standard multipliers for
  certain AT activities. These are able to be
  varied, with justification.

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SLI multipliers

• Sussex Language Institute have agreed separate
  multipliers that are more relevant to their work.

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Communicating the change

• All current ATs will receive a letter in January
  setting out their new grade.
• Some ATs, mainly in Sussex Institute, are
  employed to undertake more than one role and they
  will receive a letter for each role.

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Timeline for implementation

• October 2007 effective date of change
• January 2008 - letters sent to current ATs
• January 2008 - new rates paid
• March 2008 - any back pay due from October 2007
  paid

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Other issues arising from the Framework Agreement

• Personal development plans for DPhil student ATs
• A review of other AT roles in relation to the
  teaching and learning strategy

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Holiday pay

• Holiday pay has previously been rolled into
  hourly rates. This is now unlawful. From 1
  January 2008 holiday pay will no longer be rolled
  into hourly rates and will be paid separately,
  normally after the end of each term, eg holiday
  pay for period Jan- March paid in April.
• Holiday pay increased from 1 October 2007, from
  7.7 to 10.2 of the basic rate. The 7.7 has
  already been paid up to end of December. The
  additional amount of holiday pay will be paid by
  the end of March.

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Further information

• Will be available on the HR website later this
  week
• www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/staffing

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• Questions?

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The New Grading Structure