According to Jocelyn Prudence, members of the Association of University Teachers have turned down a "20 per cent pay rise". Her false claim is based on comparing the top point of the July 2003 lecturer A scale with the top August 2004 discretionary point of the proposed Ac2 scale.

This makes two assumptions:

* That all staff currently recruited to the lecturer A scale continue to be graded at this level by an inappropriate job evaluation system and are not downgraded to the proposed new Ac1 scale

* That progression through discretionary or "contribution" points will be automatic for all.

Even if Prudence's rather far-fetched assumptions are true, her claim ignores the fact that those on lecturer A scale have an expectation of progression to the top of lecturer B scale, bringing a pay rise of 44 per cent at the top automatic point and 62 per cent at the top discretionary point.

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Consequently, on the basis of Prudence's own figures, those recruited to the lecturer A scale face a huge reduction in earnings expectations - in crude terms, a pay cut. And her proposals offer nothing at all to academic-related members of the academic team.

It is hardly surprising that the Prudence diktat, misnamed a "framework agreement", has been rejected unanimously by AUT executive and council. We are heading for a highly disruptive and damaging confrontation. Even at this late stage, I appeal to universities to act over the head of the discredited UCEA and appoint a new national negotiating team to agree an acceptable settlement.

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Alan Carr
Former president
Association of University Teachers