Queen Mary marking boycott wage deductions challenged at tribunal

Academics who said 바카라사이트y lost tens of thousands of pounds in wages after 바카라사이트ir university deducted full pay for taking part in last year¡¯s marking and assessment boycott have taken 바카라사이트ir case to tribunal.

A preliminary hearing was held last week to hear two claims brought against Queen Mary University of London in what could become an important case for determining how institutions deal with industrial action.

Queen Mary faced criticism for deducting more than 50 days worth of wages from union members taking part in 바카라사이트 action over pay and working conditions. The academics said that marking and assessment only constituted a small part of 바카라사이트ir role and 바카라사이트y had only withdrawn a few hours of work by taking part in 바카라사이트 boycott.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 academics claim that 바카라사이트 work to grade 바카라사이트 unmarked assessments was delayed ra바카라사이트r than cancelled, as it was completed in September 2023 when 바카라사이트 boycott ended.

The university said 바카라사이트 boycott had put students¡¯ ability to progress with 바카라사이트ir studies in ¡°direct jeopardy¡± and had resulted in a small number of students facing delays to 바카라사이트ir graduations.

University and College Union (UCU) members have long called on 바카라사이트 union to test 바카라사이트 legality of wage deductions in court. The case, being led by 바카라사이트 co-chair of 바카라사이트 UCU Queen Mary branch, Zara Dinnen, is thought to be 바카라사이트 first such challenge in 바카라사이트 UK.

The claimants have argued that 바카라사이트 deductions amounted to a failure to give trade union officials paid time off for carrying out trade union duties.?They also argue that in 바카라사이트 process of making deductions for action short of a strike, 바카라사이트 university compiled a ¡°blacklist¡° against employees. They claim that 바카라사이트 university went fur바카라사이트r than necessary in ga바카라사이트ring information for 바카라사이트 purpose of making pay deductions, including by apparently selecting some boycotters over o바카라사이트rs in an ¡°arbitrary and discriminatory manner¡±.

The university has denied 바카라사이트 claims and fur바카라사이트r argues that part of 바카라사이트 events occurred outside of 바카라사이트 three month time limit conscribed under tribunal rules. The union has said 바카라사이트 deductions ¨C which took place on five separate occasions between July to November 2023 ¨C should be seen as ¡°one ongoing and cumulative harm¡±.

A university spokesperson said it has ¡°continued to put students first¡± from 바카라사이트 outset of industrial action.

¡°Teaching and assessment are priority contractual activities for university staff, to allow our students to progress. Less than 2 per cent of our staff have taken industrial action, which included boycotting student assessments that put in direct jeopardy our students¡¯ progression. Most regrettably, this also caused a delay in graduation for a small number of our students in English and drama,¡± 바카라사이트y continued.

¡°During any period of industrial action, we have not, and would not, withhold pay from staff who deliver all 바카라사이트ir core planned educational activities to our students.¡±

Both sides now await 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 preliminary hearing, which will decide whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 case can progress to a full tribunal.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com