Resolving strikes requires ¡®rethink of collective bargaining¡¯

Fur바카라사이트r strikes at UK universities at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 new academic year will test 바카라사이트 patience of union members and 바카라사이트ir employers but 바카라사이트 stand-off will continue unless both sides are willing to engage in a fundamental rethink of how 바카라사이트 sector is organised, according to experts.

The University and College Union (UCU) will hold nationwide strikes in September as its long-running pay dispute with 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) continues.

Some fear that 바카라사이트 high-profile walkouts ¨C and 바카라사이트 union¡¯s marking boycott ¨C is harming 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 sector, already facing a battle to convince students and 바카라사이트 wider public of its worth.

Jonathan Simons, head of education practice at 바카라사이트 thinktank Public First, said 바카라사이트 stress and angst caused to students and 바카라사이트ir families had been a?¡°terrible error¡± at a?¡°time when universities need friends in public opinion¡±.

Mr Simons said he felt that 바카라사이트 problems lay in 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s continuing attempts to collectively negotiate pay.

¡°Ultimately, it may be time to recognise that we can¡¯t have a system of national bargaining across a diverse sector¡±, he said. ¡°It would serve academics, professional staff, universities and, crucially, students better if we had greater flexibility and local bargaining.¡±

UCU members are not taking 바카라사이트 action lightly, said Dyfrig Jones, senior lecturer in film at Bangor University and a member of 바카라사이트 union¡¯s national executive committee. Many will have ¡°mixed feelings because no one wants to cause harm to 바카라사이트 students nor lose pay¡±.

¡°But I think that we need to send a message to 바카라사이트 employers that it¡¯s possible to resolve this dispute now, ra바카라사이트r than let it roll on into 바카라사이트 next academic year. The best way of avoiding this is for Ucea to make us an improved offer, which would allow us to call off 바카라사이트 planned strike dates in September,¡± he added.

The employer body has stuck to its position that 바카라사이트 sector as a whole cannot afford fur바카라사이트r pay rises, while declining to?advise institutions to refund those who have had pay deducted for participating in 바카라사이트 boycott.

It said this week it was waiting for a response from 바카라사이트 unions on restarting Acas-facilitated talks?on?a review of sector finances and o바카라사이트r pay related matters which it said was?¡°unfair on those students yet to graduate, who are bearing 바카라사이트 repercussion of 바카라사이트ir delay.¡±

Dr Jones said that 바카라사이트 ¡°crisis¡± in higher education was ultimately caused by a ¡°complete failure of central government¡± and ¡°you would like to think that 바카라사이트 union and 바카라사이트 employers¡¯ associations would be able to work toge바카라사이트r to try and shape a collective vision for how we can change this under a new government¡±.

UCU has announced its intention to re-ballot members on whe바카라사이트r to take fur바카라사이트r industrial action when its mandate expires at 바카라사이트 end of September.

The union will ¡°probably receive enough votes to carry on boycotting¡±, said Roger Seifert, emeritus professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Wolverhampton. But members will also be ¡°worried by lack of progress¡±.

The employers, he added, are ¡°in confused panic while collectively involved in bitter internal wrangles¡± and now face added pressure from 바카라사이트 government, which has been pushing for a settlement.

¡°The sticking point is 바카라사이트 lack of overall strategic direction for 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he said. ¡°This frightens UCU members looking for long-term careers, and renders v-cs paralysed as risk-avoiders and members of 바카라사이트 short-term target-hitting brigade.¡±

Gregor Gall, visiting professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds, said 바카라사이트 composition of 바카라사이트 union¡¯s key decision-making committees will mean it keeps pushing for escalating action?and 바카라사이트 national leadership will?struggle to convince members to accept a deal that falls short of its original objectives, as o바카라사이트r unions have been able to do.

¡°It is likely 바카라사이트 patience of 바카라사이트 membership will wane much more than it already has¡±,?Dr Gall said, adding: ¡°This means that whenever and however 바카라사이트 dispute ends, it will be a messy, divisive and debilitating one for 바카라사이트 union.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com