West End letters: backdated pay | Rob Fenwick | University of Westminster | allocation | financially stable

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 19 June 2009

University challenge

• THE story (Uni under fire over backdated pay refusal, June 12) appeared to state that the University of Westminster claims it cannot afford to backdate its pay offer to staff, while simultaneously being in receipt of an “additional” £719,968 from the government.
This is not correct.
The figure quoted is the total amount given to us by the government to enable otherwise disadvantaged students to access the university. This figure is provisional, and is £223,000 higher than last year’s allocation. However, it comes in the context of an overall cut to our teaching grant of £398,000, and ahead of deeper cuts expected later in the year.
While the university remains financially stable and keen to reward its staff for the excellent education they deliver to our students, backdating our pay offer could seriously threaten the university’s financial position. We regret that is a risk we cannot take, and we hope staff continue to back our fair offer.
Rob Fenwick
Director of Communications
University of Westminster

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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