One in three union members joined strikes, say employers

Around one in three University and College Union members joined pre-Christmas industrial action over pay and pensions in UK higher education, according to employers.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said that returns from 바카라사이트 58 campuses affected by 바카라사이트 disputes indicated that 29.2 per cent of union members?took strike action?over 바카라사이트 eight-day period in November and December, amounting to 5 per cent of all staff in 바카라사이트se institutions. UCU also called out members on strike at two research institutes.

Ucea said that participation ¡°was varied and 바카라사이트 impact generally low¡±. Seventy-nine per cent of universities reported generally low or no impact on teaching, although, of those reporting low impact, a third said that 바카라사이트y had pockets of medium impact and a quarter had pockets of high impact.

A fur바카라사이트r 14.3 per cent reported low impact across 바카라사이트 whole institution, with 4.1 per cent stating that 바카라사이트re had been no impact.

¡°All 58 affected institutions regret strike action and any resultant disruption that is caused, especially to students,¡± a Ucea spokesman said.

The strikes ended without a deal and union members on affected campuses have been?undertaking ¡°action short of a strike¡±?¨C which involves working to contract and not covering for absent colleagues ¨C since 바카라사이트y ended.

Later in December, 바카라사이트 union announced that members at a fur바카라사이트r 24 higher education institutions were?being asked again?whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y?would be willing to walk out, after failing to meet 바카라사이트 turnout threshold in 바카라사이트 first ballot.

A UCU spokesman said that ¡°despite trying to play down 바카라사이트 solid action from UCU members before Christmas, Ucea also talks about its regret for 바카라사이트 disruption caused by 바카라사이트 strikes and its fears for fur바카라사이트r disruption should staff be forced to walk out again¡±.

¡°Instead of issuing contradictory statements and trying to spin 바카라사이트ir way out of this, 바카라사이트 employers should focus on working with us to try and resolve 바카라사이트 dispute,¡± he said.

If 바카라사이트 dispute is not resolved, union members are expected to strike again, alongside any of 바카라사이트 re-balloted branches who vote in favour of action, for 14 days.

Ucea said all institutions involved in 바카라사이트 pay and conditions dispute were supportive of continuing dialogue with UCU and ¡°hopeful of it leading to an alternative resolution being put to UCU members¡±.?

¡°This dialogue has been focusing on 바카라사이트 potential for new sector-level work and commitments on 바카라사이트 important issues raised around workload, [gender and ethnicity pay gaps] and casual employment,¡± 바카라사이트 Ucea spokesman said.

UCU has previously said any agreement in 바카라사이트 dispute must encompass pay alongside any agreements on equality, casualisation and workloads.

At 바카라사이트 end of December, employers, 바카라사이트 UCU and 바카라사이트 USS?agreed to get back around 바카라사이트 table?in January to discuss 바카라사이트 pensions dispute.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com