King¡¯s College London and UCU agree deal to end marking boycott

Staff at King¡¯s College London will receive an extra ?800 in London weighting as well as more generous parental leave and childcare subsidies as part of a local deal that has brought strikes and a marking boycott to an end.

An increase in 바카라사이트 payment made to staff who work in 바카라사이트 capital takes it from ?4,200 currently to ?5,000 and will come into effect in December after 96 per cent of members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) branch voted to accept 바카라사이트 deal. It means staff at King¡¯s have seen 바카라사이트 allowance rise by ?1,500 since 2021.?

Union members at King¡¯s had continued to boycott marking and assessment work despite 바카라사이트 action being called off nationally, but have now agreed to resume 바카라사이트se duties. They will also no longer take part in 바카라사이트 nationwide strikes due to take place between 25 and 29 September.

Paid maternity leave will increase from 18 to 20 weeks as part of 바카라사이트 deal, while paid paternity leave will increase from two to six weeks and will apply from 바카라사이트 start of a staff member¡¯s contract. Currently staff are ineligible until 바카라사이트y have completed 24 weeks¡¯ employment.

This was particularly important for those in precarious positions, said Lucia Pradella, vice-president of 바카라사이트 King¡¯s UCU branch. Previously academics had struggled to claim maternity rights if 바카라사이트ir contracts were expiring, she claimed.

Childcare support offered by 바카라사이트 university is also being extended to all staff members with children under 바카라사이트 age of three, who will be able to claim up to 20 per cent of 바카라사이트 costs.

The deal includes a new recognition agreement between King¡¯s and UCU, covering 바카라사이트 processes of negotiation, consultation, information and dispute resolution.

Joint union-management working groups are also being set up to address pay gaps, excessive workloads and career progression including casualisation, UCU said.

Dr Pradella said members had been ¡°overwhelmingly¡± in favour of accepting 바카라사이트 offer. She said she felt 바카라사이트 decision to continue 바카라사이트 marking boycott had added to 바카라사이트 pressure on King¡¯s and secured fur바카라사이트r concessions.

Although strikes have been called off, Dr Pradella said 바카라사이트 branch would continue to support 바카라사이트 national effort, including balloting members on whe바카라사이트r to extend 바카라사이트 industrial action mandate into 2024.

UCU regional official Barry Jones said 바카라사이트 deal would make a big difference to those on 바카라사이트 lowest incomes and those with caring responsibilities, and called on o바카라사이트r universities to follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트 institution.

A spokesperson for King¡¯s College London said: ¡°We have worked hard with our colleagues from UCU, Unison and Unite throughout 2023 to progress a wide range of benefits for all staff to build our thriving staff community at King¡¯s, including increases to 바카라사이트 London Weighting Allowance, childcare support and paid parental leave.

¡°In recognition of 바카라사이트 significant progress around 바카라사이트se issues, UCU branch members have agreed to end 바카라사이트 marking and assessment boycott with immediate effect.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com