UNISON Northern Ireland

UNISON welcomes the introduction of the Real Living Wage for our members in the Ulster University

UNISON has just secured the introduction of the Real Living Wage of £9.90 per hour for it’s members employed in the Ulster University’s four campuses.

UNISON Regional Organiser, Nuala Conlon, said: “This pay rise, after a lengthy negotiation process involving both the private contractor Bidvest Noonan and the Ulster University, is good news for our members. UNISON members in the UU include cleaners, porters, security staff – the lowest paid in the University and those who were privatised some years ago. It means that all members currently on the national minimum wage of £9.50 will go up to £9.90 per hour, backdated to 1st August 2022. It is very small rise on a very low wage but it is a start and will be welcomed by our members working in the Belfast, Jordanstown, Coleraine and Magee campuses.

Other members in supervisory and team leading roles will also receive a rise of 40 pence per hour to ensure the differential between pay rates is secured. It will mean that members will receive the annual uplift to the Real Living Wage – a wage which, although very low given the times we’re in, is higher than the Government’s National Minimum wage. UNISON is continuing our call to all employers in the private and voluntary sectors to introduce the Real Living Wage.”

Tom Strawhorne, UNISON Branch Chair of the Coleraine and Magee University branch, stated: “ This is great news, given the current cost of living crisis. It is certainly a step in the right direction. We would like to thank both the Ulster University and Bidvest Noonan for their support in this.”