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Further to your report on the launch of the New Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES) (The Week in Higher Education, 2 October), there is absolutely no confusion in our minds about the University and College Union's role in the sector's national pay bargaining arrangements. It has none at present.

It is a matter of regret that the union that represents a proportion of the academic and associated staff in the sector has chosen not to represent its members within the New JNCHES. The door remains open, and we hope that UCU members will urge their union to participate.

Chris Kaufman and Bill Wakeham, Chair, higher education trade unions, and chair, higher education employers, New JNCHES.