March 8, 2016 8.54 am This story is over 104 months old

University of Lincoln condemned for gender pay inequality in new report

Pay gap: Male professors at the University of Lincoln earn nearly £8,000 more per year on average than their female counterparts, a new study has claimed.
Photo: University of Lincoln

Male professors at the University of Lincoln earn nearly £8,000 more per year on average than their female counterparts, a new study has claimed.

Research by the University and College Union (UCU) has found that the average salary for a female professor at the university is £63,318.

However, the ‘Holding Down Women’s Pay’ report has revealed that male professors doing comparable jobs at the university take home an annual salary of £71,004, a difference of £7,686 and a pay gap of 10.8%.

The University of Lincoln is the seventh worst nationally for its gender pay gap amongst professors, with the City University in London topping the league table.

Female professors at that university earned an average £15,992 less than their male colleagues – a pay gap of 16.4%.

In higher education, the average shortfall faced by female academics was £6,103 a year.

According to the union’s data, just eight higher education institutions paid women equally or more than men.

At 154 institutions, women are paid less than men.

A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “The university actively monitors equal pay across the workforce and pay structures and bands are in place to ensure that remuneration is fair and equal to the role.

“We continually look to promote as part of career pathways and have various schemes in place to support the advancement of female academic staff as part of our commitment to the Athena SWAN principles, including fellowships, networking events and mentoring.

“We are positive that the initiatives and approach of the university along with active monitoring ensures fairness, recognition and equity for all.”

UCU compiled the gender pay figures using its new online tool, Rate for the job, which allows members to make comparisons between pay rates at colleges and universities.

General secretary for the union, Sally Hunt, said: “These colleges and universities should not have allowed such shameful levels of pay inequality to persist. It’s nearly 50 years since the Equal Pay Act came into force and they’re still flying in the face of it.

“Today on International Women’s Day, we would like to see a firm commitment from sector leaders to close the gap and are offering to work with institutions to make equal pay at every college and university a reality.”