TRADE UNIONISTS have warned of an “upstairs, downstairs” culture in Scottish universities, as they slammed the imposition of a pay contract on education staff.

Unison has criticised the behaviour of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA), the UK-wide organisation that has imposed a pay offer of 1.8 per cent on Scottish university workers.

Since the current rate of inflation stands at 2.1 per cent, workers are angry that the contract represents a real-terms pay cut.

The move comes as both Unison and the UCU lecturers’ union prepare to ballot for strike action.

Unison Scotland higher education lead officer Lorcan Mullen said: “This employer behaviour is completely contrary to the Scottish government’s Fair Work agenda, and is far removed from the relatively progressive collective bargaining norms in Scottish public services.

“It’s also not a good look when every university principal in Scotland earns more than the prime minister and first minister, and at least four earn more than both put together.”

The union is also calling for Scottish universities to pressure UCEA into developing a proper collective bargaining culture between workers and management, so that employers are forced to live up to the progressive, inclusive rhetoric of university institutions.

Mr Mullen added: “Given the repeated, justified controversies around executive pay in higher education, these high-handed tactics only reinforce the perception of an ‘upstairs, downstairs’ culture in our universities.

“If universities refuse to live up to their professed progressive values, Unison and other unions will organise our members to win better.”