BLACK and minority ethnic (Bame) staff in universities are less likely to hold senior jobs and are paid less than their white colleagues, according to new analysis.

Statistics released today by the University and College Union (UCU) show that Bame staff in British universities are far less likely to take senior positions in their workplaces.

While 11 per cent of white academics are professors, only 3 per cent of their black colleagues across the board are.

The statistics also show an overall pay gap of 9 per cent between white and Bame academic staff.

Asian academics are paid an average of 9 per cent less than their white colleagues, while black academics suffer a larger pay gap of 14 per cent.

The analysis, based on the 2017-18 Higher Education Statistics Agency staff record, also shows that only one in 15 Asian academic staff are professors.

UCU members in higher education are balloting for strike action against increasingly poor pay and conditions alongside growing workplace casualisation in universities.

If workers vote to take strike action it is expected to be the biggest strike of university staff in a generation.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “These figures lift the lid on the extent of the race pay gaps in universities and the lack of representation of Bame staff at the top level.

“It is quite shocking that we are having to ballot our members to get universities to start seriously addressing the issue of unequal pay and progression in higher education.

“If you are a black academic then there is just a one in 33 chance you’ll be a professor, compared to 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. Universities need to work with us to address the issue and recognise that they will need to transform their practices to implement real change for Bame staff.”