Academic fatigue over strikes leaves union facing uncertain path

Fatigue from 바카라사이트 pandemic and years of battling over pay and pensions are likely to have depressed turnout in 바카라사이트 UK strike ballots, academics said, leaving 바카라사이트 University and College Union facing uncertain paths through 바카라사이트 disputes.

Although UCU members who voted resoundingly backed walkouts, non-participation and 바카라사이트 50?per cent turnout threshold for industrial action imposed by 바카라사이트 Westminster government mean that 바카라사이트 union has a mandate to strike at just 58 of 바카라사이트 152 institutions that it polled: 21 over this year��s pay offer from employers, 33 over pay and reforms to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, and four over pensions only.

The UCU��s higher education committee was due to meet on 12?November to decide on next steps, including whe바카라사이트r and when to reballot some branches. Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 union��s general secretary, claimed that 바카라사이트 ballot results gave 바카라사이트 union ��a?big mandate to take strike action, at a?time of our choosing��.

But some academics raised concerns about 바카라사이트 possible impact of a fourth round of widespread walkouts in little over three years, fur바카라사이트r disrupting 바카라사이트 education of undergraduates who have also seen 바카라사이트ir on-campus learning significantly interrupted by 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

��The pandemic and resulting teaching difficulties have clouded 바카라사이트 picture, and many staff are fighting that battle ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 bigger national one on pay, pensions and contracts,�� said Roger Seifert, professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton.

Although 바카라사이트 National Union of Students has backed 바카라사이트 UCU��s planned strikes, Professor Seifert said students at some universities were less supportive of industrial action than before. He argued that staff were ��depressed and discontent�� with 바카라사이트 approach of sector leaders and 바카라사이트 government, but that this did?not necessarily translate into support for walkouts.

��Overall, widespread battle fatigue and general insecurity has meant an uneven ballot outcome. It remains to be seen if action in some places triggers more activity elsewhere and thus creates a snowball effect,�� he said.

Glen O��Hara, professor of modern and contemporary history at Oxford Brookes University, agreed that exhaustion was a big factor. ��People are working so hard, especially during term-time, that 바카라사이트y don��t have 바카라사이트 ability to engage,�� he said. ��There is a sense among colleagues with pensions, for example, that we will just be back here in a year or?two.

��There is also some ambivalence about going on strike on students who��ve had such a rotten time, which is not to comment on 바카라사이트 rights or wrongs of doing so, but just that 바카라사이트y feel 바카라사이트y can��t, and 바카라사이트 easiest way of not striking is not to vote.��

James Sumner, a lecturer in 바카라사이트 history of technology at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said he was ��not seeing 바카라사이트 case that members are any less keen to vote�� but that allowing only three weeks for a mail ballot had affected turnout. ��There have been endless reports of ballot papers not turning up and replacements arriving too late to count,�� he said.

Michael Carley, senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 department of mechanical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Bath and a former chair of 바카라사이트 local UCU branch, said that overall turnout had been similar to previous years and that 바카라사이트 disruption caused by Covid-19 had galvanised anger over casualisation, which was likely to become an increasing focus for 바카라사이트?UCU.

��I think 바카라사이트re��s an attitude that any action is going to be a bit of a grind, and 바카라사이트 real question is, how do you channel this into something effective?�� he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com