University 9pc race pay gap leads union to call for parity

UNIVERSITY workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds earn significantly less and are much less likely to be professors than their white peers, a union has warned.

One in 33 (3 per cent) of black academics are professors, compared with around one in nine (11 per cent) of white academic staff, according to an analysis of official data by the University and College Union (UCU).

In addition, one in 15 (7 per cent) of Asian academic university workers are professors.

The analysis, which covers 2017-18, also shows that white academic staff at the UK’S universities and colleges earn £7,000 more than their black peers (14 per cent), taking home an average of £49,065 compared with a black academic member of staff on £42,065.

Asian academics earn an average of £44,890 – £4,175 (9 per cent) less than their white colleagues. Overall, there is a 9 per cent pay gap between black and minority ethnic academic staff and their white co-workers, the union said.

Its analysis comes as the union ballots its members for industrial action, including walkouts, over pay and conditions. Jo Grady, the UCU general secretary, said: “These figures lift the lid on the extent of the race pay gaps in universities and the lack of representation of BME staff at the top level.”

She added: “If you are a black academic then there is just a one in 33 chance you’ll be a professor, compared with one in nine for your white peers.

“It is going to take systematic change and some difficult conversations if we are going to make any headway.”