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Tom WIlson of Natfhe confuses the defence of national bargaining with defence of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Readers' reactions, THES, January 19). The UCEA is indefensible. It was established as an arm's-length agency to enable vice-chancellors to evade responsibility for engaging in meaningful national negotiations.

If national bargaining is to survive, they must be forced to resume that responsibility.

Terry McKnight
Chair, employment committee
Association of University Teachers