Staff at King’s College London have accepted a pay increase and paid parental leave, as well as childcare subsidies, ending a long-running marking and assessments boycott.
A total of 96% of King’s College University and College Union (UCU) members voted to end the boycott and accept the deal. The deal includes an £800 increase from the current London weighting amount of £4,200 from December 2023, a rise in paid maternity leave,from 18 to 20 weeks and from two to six weeks of paid paternity leave, with 20% childcare cost subsidies being introduced for employees with children under the age of three.
It also features a new recognition agreement covering the processes of negotiation, consultation, information and dispute resolution, and joint union-management working groups to address pay gaps, excessive workloads and career progression, including casualisation.
Trade unions Unite and Unison have consulted with members on whether to accept the offer.
A spokesperson for King’s College London said: “We have worked hard with our colleagues from UCU, Unison and Unite throughout 2023 to progress a wide range of benefits for all staff to build our thriving staff community at King’s, including increases to the London Weighting Allowance, childcare support and paid parental leave. In recognition of the significant progress around these issues, UCU branch members have agreed to end the MAB with immediate effect.”
Barry Jones, regional official at UCU, added: “This deal makes a big difference for our members, especially those on the lowest incomes and those with caring responsibilities. I want to thank King’s College London for making us an offer that has settled this local dispute. We look forward to continuing to work with management to create a new recognition agreement and deal with high workloads, casualisation, pay gaps and career progression. Other universities now need to follow King’s lead.”