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Contrary to what Matt Grainger writes, the unions have not said that academic salaries have declined by 40 per cent in real terms (that is, compared with the retail prices index) over the past 20 years. What they do say, as was reported on March 17 ("Employers and unions square up"), is that they have fallen by 40 per cent compared with average earnings.

I hope the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association understands the difference.

Alan Slomson

Leeds University