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How sad that Jocelyn Prudence, chief executive of the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association, should choose to adopt the negotiating style of a 19th-century mill owner ("Universities face industrial action over pay", THES , August 1). Her pronouncement that negotiation on her regressive and unacceptable proposal is "not possible" demonstrates clearly what she means by partnership.

She, or those who employ her, have a couple of months to wise up and engage seriously with the agreed bargaining process. Otherwise, the government and the public will know who to blame for a drift towards disruptive, damaging and wholly unnecessary confrontation.

Alan Carr
Vice-president
Association of University Teachers