UNIONS celebrated victory today after forcing the University of Surrey to abandon plans to outsource all new professional services roles and impose a “two-tier workforce.”

The University and College Union (UCU), Unite and Unison resisted proposals for all new professional services staff to be employed on inferior terms and conditions through subsidiary company Operate Surrey from the start of last month.

Those few employees on existing Operate Surrey contracts will now have their pay harmonised with those employed directly by the university and will also receive enhanced annual leave and sick pay.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “This is a huge victory for our members who have resolutely opposed Surrey’s imposition of a two-tier workforce, as well as for current and future students who rely on the support professional services staff provide.

“The changes would have forced new hires into accepting worse terms and conditions and worse pensions than their peers.”