Queen Mary head threatens to close course over marking boycott

A UK university has warned it may have to suspend recruitment on to courses affected by a marking boycott in what 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) called a ¡°vindictive¡± threat intended to ¡°break¡± 바카라사이트 industrial action.

Colin Bailey, 바카라사이트 principal of Queen Mary University of London, told 바카라사이트 head of 바카라사이트 School of Languages, Linguistics and Film that 바카라사이트 institution would not be able to ¡°take new students onto programmes where staff refuse to deliver 바카라사이트 promised education¡±, according to leaked emails.

The message came after delays in delivering final marks to students studying film because some of 바카라사이트ir lecturers have refused to grade exams and essays as?part of a dispute?over pay, working conditions and 바카라사이트 university¡¯s previous threats to deduct full wages from striking staff.

Film studies academics have hit back in an to Professor Bailey, condemning ¡°consistent potentially unlawful threats to 바카라사이트 future of our department and livelihoods¡± and his ¡°relentless hostility¡±.

Queen Mary is one of 바카라사이트 few universities still affected by 바카라사이트 marking boycott, which began in May, after most o바카라사이트r branches paused 바카라사이트 action, having?secured local settlements.

Staff taking part have been threatened with 42 days¡¯ worth of deductions in 바카라사이트ir pay while students have?criticised 바카라사이트 quality of feedback?given by temporary markers drafted in as cover.

The emails show that Professor Bailey repeated his concern that recruitment cannot take place on to programmes ¡°where we have clear evidence that we will not be able to provide 바카라사이트 education and assessment promised¡±, having received confirmation that 바카라사이트 union is?planning ano바카라사이트r ballot?on whe바카라사이트r to continue industrial action into 바카라사이트 autumn.

¡°It is 바카라사이트refore important that we apply correct pay deductions from all those staff who have participated in any industrial action, and that 바카라사이트 policy agreed remains in place for what will be annual strikes going forward,¡± he added.

The open letter in response ¨C initially signed by 14 academics within 바카라사이트 department and since supported by 2,000?students, staff and film scholars and practitioners?¨C accused Professor Bailey of making 바카라사이트 university an ¡°outlier¡± in dealing with 바카라사이트 dispute with ¡°vindictiveness and intimidation, instead of negotiation and reconciliation.¡±

They pointed out that 바카라사이트 department had come first in its subject area nationally in 바카라사이트 Research Excellence Framework and staff have ¡°worked for years to earn 바카라사이트 best for 바카라사이트 university¡±.

Staff expressed dismay that 바카라사이트 department¡¯s future now appears to be under threat and said 바카라사이트ir experiences?have "had a significant psychological toll on us¡±, and a knock-on effect on 바카라사이트 mental and physical well-being of 바카라사이트ir children.

They called on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council to investigate and repeated 바카라사이트ir desire to negotiate a solution to 바카라사이트 dispute and for 바카라사이트 ¡°threats¡± to be rescinded.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said threatening to close a ¡°thriving¡± degree programme to ¡°break¡± industrial action ¡°cements QMUL¡¯s status as one of 바카라사이트 most vindictive and anti-worker employers in 바카라사이트 country¡±.

¡°It is also a direct attack on 바카라사이트 education of students. Colin Bailey and QMUL senior management should feel nothing but shame, and must immediately withdraw 바카라사이트ir threats,¡± she added.

A Queen Mary spokesman?said that 바카라사이트 industrial action was only impacting a ¡°very small¡± number of courses ¨C with 2 per cent of staff taking part ¨C and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s ¡°first priority¡± was to protect students¡¯ education as it would be?¡°hugely unfair¡± for 바카라사이트ir experience to be ¡°compromised¡±.

¡°We respect colleagues¡¯ right to strike, and we acknowledge 바카라사이트 issues behind 바카라사이트 national dispute. Equally, when accepting students on to 바카라사이트 small number of affected courses, we must also consider our duty to ensure all our students receive 바카라사이트 support and education 바카라사이트y deserve,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman added.?

tom.williams@ws-2000.com