The University of Leeds is to increase pay for more than 1,300 employees from 1 February.
Employees on its pay grades two, three and four will be moved up at least one pay spine point. Those on pay grade two will earn a minimum of £12 an hour, and those on pay grade three will move up at least one pay spine point to earn a minimum of £12.21 an hour, except for those already earning £12.72.
Those on pay grade four will move up at least one pay spine point to earn a minimum of £13.02 an hour, apart from those already earning between £13.81 and £14.93 per hour.
The pay rises will be subject to pay deductions such as tax, national insurance and pension contributions.
The university has also committed to ensuring that all workers receive at least the new real living wage of £12 per hour.
The pay improvement was negotiated and agreed collectively with trade unions Unison and Unite and goes beyond the university's ongoing commitment to support its community. It is targeted at the university’s lowest-paid staff who are more likely to be feeling the increasing cost of living, and is the first step in a broader review of its pay and grading structure, which will include a benchmarking exercise with peer institutions and best practice.
Professor Hai-Sui Yu, interim vice-chancellor and president of the University of Leeds, said: “It’s right that we focus on supporting our lowest paid staff whose hard work is integral to the university’s operation. The university’s executive group was clear in its resolve to implement this targeted investment ahead of a wider pay and grading review. I’m very pleased that we can make this intervention with immediate effect, and we will continue to consider how we can best support our community.”
