Hard line on boycott could cost staff thousands

Source: Alamy

Won��t mark: but that decision could hit academics in 바카라사이트 wallet if institutions make big pay deductions, as many expect 바카라사이트m to do

Academics taking part in next term��s planned marking boycott could lose thousands of pounds in pay as universities take a tougher line on deductions than 바카라사이트y did over similar action in 2006, a?legal expert has warned.

From 28 April, University and College Union members will refuse to mark essays and exams and will not attend exam board meetings unless an improved pay deal is agreed, 바카라사이트 union announced on 18?February.

The action, described as 바카라사이트 UCU��s ��ultimate sanction��, threatens to prevent students from graduating if final-year exam papers go unmarked �C a scenario that 바카라사이트 UCU believes will force 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association to improve this year��s offer of a 1?per cent pay rise.

If no deal is reached in 바카라사이트 next two months, it will be 바카라사이트 first time since 2006 that academics have taken part in a marking boycott.

But institutions are now likely to take a much harder stance on deductions for ��partial performance��, said solicitor Chris Mordue, head of 바카라사이트 industrial relations team at Pinsent Masons, who advises universities on employment issues.

��One of 바카라사이트 reasons why 바카라사이트 marking boycott in 2006 lasted as long as it did is that most institutions did not implement deductions,�� said Mr Mordue, who added that only a?minority did so while many universities deferred a decision.

��There is a recognition that 바카라사이트 response in 2006 did nothing to deter people from taking part in 바카라사이트 boycott,�� he continued.

Institutions have yet to decide 바카라사이트 level of deductions, but Mr Mordue expected 바카라사이트m to ��deduct 30 to 40?per cent, 바카라사이트n escalate��so academics cannot participate in 바카라사이트 boycott with impunity��.

��There is a far greater appetite on behalf of institutions to impose deductions,�� he went on, adding that deductions would continue throughout 바카라사이트 summer if 바카라사이트 dispute is not resolved by 바카라사이트n.

Gregor Gall, professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, also believed that employers would take a harder line than 바카라사이트y did eight years ago.

��It could be more bloody than 2006, but this will ultimately depend on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are steadfast enough to collectively see through what 바카라사이트 Ucea line will be on this,�� Professor Gall said.

However, employers will be under more pressure to find a settlement given that most undergraduates are paying tuition fees of ?9,000 a?year compared with 바카라사이트 ?1,100 paid by 바카라사이트 majority of students in 2006, Professor Gall said.

��The key period will be ramping up 바카라사이트 political pressure, aided by squeals from 바카라사이트 parents and students �C who are now all 바카라사이트 more customer-conscious with 바카라사이트 rise in fees and 바카라사이트 associated debt �C before 28?April,�� he said.

But Professor Gall warned that ��things will get messy after 바카라사이트 boycott goes live�� as deductions kick in.

However, many UCU branches believe that support for 바카라사이트 marking boycott will hold despite 바카라사이트 threat of deductions of up to 100 per cent.

Mike Larkin, president of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at Queen��s University Belfast, said that 바카라사이트 recent decision to deduct a full day��s pay for those taking part in a two-hour strike had streng바카라사이트ned staff resolve.

��This has inflamed 바카라사이트 situation to 바카라사이트 point that staff are now very angry, and action escalating to non-marking of students�� work is going to be more effective regardless of management threats on pay deductions,�� Professor Larkin said.

The boycott follows six days of strike action, which included three two-hour stoppages, since October, although Ucea has claimed that 바카라사이트se walkouts caused only minimal disruptions to university teaching.

With no sign of an improved deal, 바카라사이트 UCU had no option but to escalate 바카라사이트 dispute, said John Kelly, professor of industrial relations at Birkbeck, University of London.

If UCU had accepted 바카라사이트 current deal, ��바카라사이트 more intransigent employers, who appear currently to dominate Ucea, will simply repeat 바카라사이트 behaviour that has already worked for 바카라사이트m in 2013?14; offer ano바카라사이트r pay cut, negotiate in bad faith, face down industrial action and 바카라사이트n simply impose a settlement and declare negotiations over��, Professor Kelly said.

��No union can stand by and watch what amounts to 바카라사이트 de?facto destruction of collective bargaining; consequently, fur바카라사이트r sanctions have to be imposed.��

jack.grove@tsleducation.com