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THE DEBATE in your letters column about the policies of academic trade unions vis-a-vis pay review bodies fails to address the different circumstances of staff in the pre and post-1992 sectors.

Likewise, correspondents forget that both the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and Universities and Colleges Employers Association are bodies that cover both halves of ÖйúAƬ and, therefore, it would be inappropriate and unacceptable for them to take a one-sided view, prior to the post-Dearing debate on future bargaining arrangements agreed in this year's pay deal.

We are planning a joint conference shortly with the Association of University Teachers and, we hope, other unions, to share our respective analyses of the pros and cons of different mechanisms for the national determination of pay and conditions, and to identify all the policy areas where we are sure there is a high degree of agreement.

However, Natfhe's prime concern must remain to represent the concerns of its own members.

Jill Jones Higher education chair Natfhe