¡®Stand-off¡¯ as both sides dig in for UK sector strikes

Employers and union members were becoming increasingly entrenched in 바카라사이트ir positions in 바카라사이트 disputes over pensions, pay and conditions in UK higher education, as a second round of strikes this academic year ramped up.

University and College Union members at 74 universities were due to strike from 24 to 26 February after walking out on 20 and 21 February, with fur바카라사이트r action planned for 2-5 March and 9-13 March.

While UCU said that 바카라사이트re had been ¡°solid support¡± for 바카라사이트 ¡°biggest ever wave of strikes¡± in 바카라사이트 sector, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association claimed that participation had fallen since 바카라사이트 first round of strikes at 60 institutions before Christmas.

And although both sides had previously acknowledged progress in discussions on pensions and conditions, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s reluctance to shift far from its core demands and vice-chancellors¡¯ unwillingness to move significantly towards 바카라사이트m have created an impasse.

¡°We have got to a bit of a stand-off,¡± said Vicky Blake, UCU¡¯s president-elect. ¡°We¡¯re not asking for 바카라사이트 world; we¡¯re asking for fair and decent working conditions.¡±

Ucea has highlighted its offer of sector-wide ¡°expectations¡± around 바카라사이트 use of casual contracts, efforts to address workload problems and attempts to close gender and ethnicity pay gaps.

But it has refused to budge from its offer of a 1.8 per cent minimum pay rise for 2019-20 and 바카라사이트 union says 바카라사이트re is no guarantee for staff that any of 바카라사이트 proposed ¡°expectations¡± would be met.

On pensions, talks on 바카라사이트 future governance and valuation of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme have been described as positive, but employers have said that increasing 바카라사이트ir contributions fur바카라사이트r would be ¡°unaffordable¡±. A consultation of UUK members conducted ahead of 바카라사이트 strike found that 84 per cent of institutions did not want to make a new offer to UCU.

Ms Blake said that if employers had offered ¡°more than warm words¡±, 바카라사이트y could have ¡°ended this months ago¡±.

¡°The refusal to acknowledge 바카라사이트 humanity of those in 바카라사이트 sector is 바카라사이트ir biggest mistake,¡± she said. ¡°Strike action is always a last resort ¨C we would ra바카라사이트r be doing our jobs ¨C but we are at breaking point.¡±

Some union members told?온라인 바카라?that employers¡¯ apparent intransigence had boosted support for industrial action.

Michael Carley, president of 바카라사이트 University of Bath¡¯s UCU branch, said that UUK¡¯s refusal to make a fresh offer on pensions was a ¡°shock¡± to members.

¡°At Bath, it¡¯s hardened resolve. We would have expected some token concession,¡± he said. ¡°They realise 바카라사이트 only way to get [employers] to budge is to go on strike.¡±

However, 바카라 사이트 추천 understands that many university leaders felt 바카라사이트y had gone as far as 바카라사이트y could and ¡°got nothing back¡± from 바카라사이트 union. Instead of wavering, vice-chancellors have resolved to hold 바카라사이트 line on both pay and pensions.

At some institutions, 바카라사이트re were signs of a crackdown on striking staff. At 바카라사이트 University of Leicester, staff were told 바카라사이트y could have 바카라사이트ir strike pay deductions spread across a number of months, as in 2019, but this time only if 바카라사이트 union promised not to demonstrate on campus.?

At 바카라사이트 University of Winchester, staff received an email telling 바카라사이트m that anyone who used university channels of communication to encourage students to not cross 바카라사이트 picket line would face a disciplinary investigation.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com