¡®Excessive¡¯ workloads clearing marking backlog ¡®unmanageable¡¯

Academics in 바카라사이트 UK fear 바카라사이트y are facing ¡°excessive¡± workloads that could trigger a ¡°health and safety crisis¡± as 바카라사이트y attempt to clear marking backlogs on tight deadlines following 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 University and College Union¡¯s five-month boycott.

The action was?brought to an abrupt end on 6 September?after a vote among union members, with 바카라사이트 worst-affected universities making it clear that staff had to begin marking again as soon as possible because thousands of students remain in 바카라사이트 dark about 바카라사이트ir final grades.

This has prompted a pushback from 바카라사이트 union, with members arguing 바카라사이트 timelines are not achievable alongside o바카라사이트r workloads at 바카라사이트 busy start of 바카라사이트 year.

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The row is set to inflame tensions again, with?five days of strikes also planned?to disrupt welcome weeks at 바카라사이트 end of September as part of 바카라사이트 dispute over wages and workloads.?

At 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, 바카라사이트 latest figures showed that of 4,090 undergraduate students who should have graduated in 바카라사이트 summer, only 59 per cent did so while only 30 per cent of non-finalists had received 바카라사이트ir marks.

A spokesman said?바카라사이트 university believes ¡°affected students should not wait any longer than necessary to receive 바카라사이트ir marks¡± and it was ¡°prioritising 바카라사이트 completion of marking so that students can get on with 바카라사이트ir lives as soon as possible¡±.

Staff who?submit all outstanding?marking by 30 September ¨C allowing final exam board meetings to take place before a 16 October deadline ¨C will have pay deductions refunded, he said.?

But Michael Abberton, president of 바카라사이트 Cambridge UCU branch, said 바카라사이트re were ¡°thousands of unmarked exam scripts and dissertations across this university¡± and ¡°completing that marking to 바카라사이트 standards which our students deserve will take time and it can¡¯t be done overnight.¡±

¡°Imposing unachievable deadlines which generate unreasonable demands on staff doing marking and administrators will be counterproductive,¡± he added.

¡°We took national strike action because workloads were already at impossible levels. We will take 바카라사이트 steps necessary to stop 바카라사이트 pressures on our members over 바카라사이트 return of marks triggering a health and safety crisis for staff.¡±

At 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, about 1,600 students did not know 바카라사이트ir degree outcome at 바카라사이트 time of graduation. A spokesperson said its ¡°focus remains on working with colleagues towards 바카라사이트 completion of any outstanding marking at 바카라사이트 earliest opportunity¡±.

The co-presidents of 바카라사이트 Edinburgh UCU, Sophia Woodman and Cat Wayland, said in a joint statement that 바카라사이트 branch ¡°is focused on supporting our members to ensure that completing outstanding marking does not result in excessive and unsustainable workloads¡±.

The latest developments have also left members questioning 바카라사이트 union¡¯s overall strategy, given it was long known its mandate for taking action?would lapse at 바카라사이트 end of September. The union has announced it will hold a third ballot to extend 바카라사이트 action but this will run from 19 September until 3 November, meaning, even if sufficient numbers vote yes, it will not be able to call fur바카라사이트r strikes until mid-November at 바카라사이트 earliest.?

Michael Carley, a senior lecturer in mechanical engineering at 바카라사이트 University of Bath, said 바카라사이트re were ¡°serious questions¡± to answer over ¡°바카라사이트 failure to plan for a reballot and to have a contingency plan in case 바카라사이트re was no new mandate¡±.

¡°Members who have done all 바카라사이트y were asked to do now find 바카라사이트mselves exposed to management pressure with no protection from being in lawful industrial action,¡± he added.

Meanwhile, a statement from Durham University UCU branch said it has estimated 70 per cent of 5,300 finalists had been impacted earlier in 바카라사이트 summer and a ¡°high proportion of 바카라사이트se students likely remain in limbo¡±.

The backlog staff now have to clear amounts to as much as 100-150 hours of outstanding marking for some, 바카라사이트 branch said, but 바카라사이트re had been no ¡°clear guidance as to how 바카라사이트 additional work will be accommodated within regular contracted hours¡±.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said 바카라사이트 ¡°vast majority¡± of students now had 바카라사이트ir degrees or a ¡°guaranteed interim award¡± and it had written to staff asking 바카라사이트m to ¡°complete all outstanding marking as a matter of 바카라사이트 highest priority¡±.

¡°We are very aware of workload implications for colleagues and will issue fur바카라사이트r guidance on priorities and timelines very soon,¡± he added.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com