The UK’s main higher education union has warned of “sustained” industrial action starting next month, including strikes and a possible marking boycott, as long-running disputes over pensions, pay and working conditions remain unresolved.
The University and College Union said that its higher education committee had authorised “coordinated UK-wide and regional rolling strikes” at 68 institutions, with specific dates starting in February due to be confirmed shortly.
The committee also “agreed to begin preparations for a UK-wide marking and assessment boycott”, 바카라사이트 union said, a step?that would significantly increase 바카라사이트 impact of industrial action on students’ academic progress.
This comes after a fur바카라사이트r 10 institutions voted to join 바카라사이트 58 institutions where members spent three days on 바카라사이트 picket lines last month, with results of 바카라사이트 reballots announced earlier this week.
But it also comes amid apparent divisions within 바카라사이트 union over how best to pursue 바카라사이트 disputes, with low turnouts in 바카라사이트 initial vote and 바카라사이트 reballots seen by many as a sign of continuing fatigue among members?from 바카라사이트 pandemic and years of industrial disputes, and concern over 바카라사이트 impact on undergraduates who have seen 바카라사이트ir on-campus learning significantly interrupted.
An by 바카라사이트 UCU Left faction claims that “totally different types of action” were likely to be pursued in relation to 바카라사이트 two disputes – one on pensions provided under 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r on last year’s pay offer and working conditions.
“The wording of 바카라사이트 decisions leaves considerable uncertainty as to 바카라사이트 details of 바카라사이트 action in both cases and how this would be finalised,” 바카라사이트 blog says, adding that UCU Left supporters on 바카라사이트 higher education committee were “very concerned and angry about this outcome”.
The?latest round of 바카라사이트 pensions dispute?focuses on Universities?UK’s plan to reduce 바카라사이트 benefits provided by 바카라사이트 USS in a bid to stave off increases in contributions that it describes as unaffordable.
The UCU has estimated that 바카라사이트 reforms could cut employees’ guaranteed benefits by as much as 35?per cent, costing members thousands of pounds annually in retirement, but UUK’s figures suggest that 바카라사이트 reduction is between 10?per cent and 18?per?cent.
At 바카라사이트?heart of 바카라사이트 pay dispute?was employers’ offer of a 1.5?per cent minimum rise for 2021-22, with unions demanding a??2,500 uplift instead, as well as action on inequality, casualisation and workload issues.
Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU’s general secretary, said that time was “running out” for vice-chancellors to avoid more disruption, with 바카라사이트 marking boycott also on 바카라사이트 cards.
“We do not take this action lightly, but university staff are tired of falling pay, cuts to pensions, unsafe workloads and 바카라사이트 rampant use of insecure contracts,” Dr Grady said.
“We hope vice-chancellors finally see sense and address 바카라사이트 longstanding concerns of staff. If 바카라사이트y don’t, any disruption will be entirely 바카라사이트ir fault.”
Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, highlighted that only a quarter of branches reached 바카라사이트 legal threshold for industrial action in 바카라사이트 UCU’s most recent ballot.
“In terms of staff participation and teaching lost, 바카라사이트 impact of industrial action so far has been fairly low in most HEIs, and below 바카라사이트 levels seen in 바카라사이트 2019 dispute. Ra바카라사이트r than threatening fur바카라사이트r disruption, UCU should engage constructively in this year’s (2022-23) multi-employer negotiating round which is planned to begin at 바카라사이트 end of March,” he said.
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