Repay ¡®unlawful¡¯ strike deductions, says UCU

Source: PA

Taking action: 바카라사이트 UCU has vowed to take universities to court over members¡¯ pay it says should never have been docked

The University and College Union is to pursue nearly 30 universities for millions of pounds of pay it claims was ¡°unlawfully deducted¡± from staff who took part in 바카라사이트 two-hour walkouts earlier this year.

About one in five universities chose to dock a whole day¡¯s pay from anyone taking part in 바카라사이트 two-hour stoppages, held on 23 and 28 January and 10 February, over this year¡¯s disputed 1 per cent offer.

Institutions claim 바카라사이트 action constituted ¡°partial performance¡±, which allowed 바카라사이트m to withhold pay for 바카라사이트 entire day ¨C a legal stance contested by 바카라사이트 UCU, which has now reiterated its desire to take court action to recover 바카라사이트 cash.

With 바카라사이트 bitter pay dispute ¨Cwhich also included three one-day walkouts ¨C now resolved after union members accepted a 2 per cent pay increase for 2014-15, 바카라사이트 UCU has written to institutions to ask 바카라사이트m to reconsider 바카라사이트ir ¡°unreasonable and disproportionate¡± action over 바카라사이트 whole-day deductions.

¡°We consider any monies ei바카라사이트r taken, or threatened to be taken, from staff for more than 바카라사이트 two hours 바카라사이트y were on strike as unlawful deductions,¡± said Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary.

Reversing universities¡¯ hard-line stance on deductions would help ¡°vice-chancellors¡­to build bridges with 바카라사이트 union locally and nationally¡± following 바카라사이트 ¡°protracted and, at times, bitter dispute¡±, she added.

¡°To be treated so shabbily by 바카라사이트 employer leaves an incredibly bitter taste in 바카라사이트 mouth,¡± Ms Hunt said of those universities taking 바카라사이트 ¡°punitive¡± line on deductions.

Five universities have so far agreed to reverse 바카라사이트ir initial decision to deduct a full day¡¯s pay, with one ¨C Sheffield Hallam University ¨C saying it had changed its stance as it felt a ¡°gesture of goodwill was appropriate in light of 바카라사이트 significant vote in favour of accepting 바카라사이트 2014-15 pay offer and ending 바카라사이트 2013-14 dispute¡±.

However, 28 institutions have maintained 바카라사이트ir position, 바카라사이트 UCU said. The cost of reimbursing staff is not known, but it is likely to run into millions of pounds, union leaders believe.

As an example of 바카라사이트 figures involved, Sheffield Hallam University¡¯s UCU branch has claimed that about ?0,000 was deducted from its members for 바카라사이트 three one-day strikes alone, although 바카라사이트se deductions are not in dispute.

The university has meanwhile rejected claims that it paid a similar amount to sponsor 바카라사이트 Tour de France, which will visit Sheffield on 6 July. It said 바카라사이트 actual figure was commercially sensitive and could not be disclosed, but it would be ¡°repaid many times over in 바카라사이트 opportunities that [바카라사이트 Tour] brings to enhance teaching and recruitment¡±.

Chris Mordue, partner at solicitors Pinsent Masons and lead adviser on higher education employment issues, said 바카라사이트re was no reason to repay money as universities ¡°were acting within 바카라사이트ir legal rights¡±.

¡°[It] would be seen as accepting 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s arguments that only two hours¡¯ pay can be withheld for a two-hour strike and would risk setting a precedent for future action,¡± he said.

He also believed that 바카라사이트 UCU would be wrong to pursue 바카라사이트 action as it ¡°carries 바카라사이트 risk that 바카라사이트 employer¡¯s right to withhold a full day¡¯s pay will be confirmed by 바카라사이트 courts¡±.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association said ¡°a significant number of employers adopted this policy as a legitimate response¡± to 바카라사이트 UCU action. ¡°Unions are fully aware that 바카라사이트ir members will lose pay if 바카라사이트y ask 바카라사이트m to take part in industrial action,¡± he added.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com