Fórsa evaluators are meeting with management evaluators to score applications submitted by union members, under the terms of the new Higher Education Job Evaluation Scheme.  

The scheme was approved by the Department of Further and Higher Education in 2023 and opened to applications last year. 

Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike said the process may result in a post being upgraded if the demands of the job correspond with the requirements for higher grades: “If the application is not successful the member can make an appeal, on the grounds that the provisions of the scheme have not been applied fairly.

“As part of this process members who have submitted an application will be offered an online meeting with evaluators, from both sides, to discuss any areas of their application where further details are needed,” he said. 

Andy said a successful applicant with more than four years’ service will be promoted without interview: “We’ve waited a long time for the first round of evaluations to happen. Once these arrangements are fully operational, 10% of clerical and library jobs in the sector will be evaluated each year.  

“This is one of only a very small number of job evaluation schemes operating within the public sector and presents an opportunity for members to be properly recognised for the work they carry out,” he said. 

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