Ucea offers deal over marking boycott pay deductions

UK higher education institutions should stagger pay deductions and ensure staff have a?¡°reasonable workload¡± in return for academics bringing 바카라사이트ir marking and assessment boycott to an end, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) has recommended.

Outlining an offer aimed at?ensuring 바카라사이트 remaining students still impacted by 바카라사이트 boycott receive 바카라사이트ir final grades, Ucea has stopped short of instructing institutions to return pay deductions taken from those participating ¨C a key demand of 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) ¨C because this would be ¡°unfair to 바카라사이트 many staff who have worked tirelessly to mitigate its impact¡±.

Instead, 바카라사이트 employer body said it would recommend to institutions that any planned pay deductions that have not yet been withheld be staggered over a longer period of time to ¡°ease 바카라사이트 financial impact on UCU members¡±.

And universities should ¡°recognise 바카라사이트 pre-booked leave arrangements of staff and 바카라사이트 importance of having a reasonable workload upon 바카라사이트 resumption of normal working¡±.

Ucea held three meetings with union officials in July after UCU members?refused to set or mark assignments?as part of a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, leaving thousands of students unable to graduate as planned.

Chief executive Raj Jethwa said 바카라사이트re was an ¡°urgent need to reset industrial relations and to end 바카라사이트 cycle of industrial action in higher education¡± but said significant changes to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s funding model over 바카라사이트 past decade had placed financial pressures on institutions, meaning 바카라사이트 sector cannot afford a higher pay rise.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said that union members ¡°will not be cowed by employers¡¯ bullying tactics and will continue to hold 바카라사이트 line in 바카라사이트 marking boycott¡±, adding that 바카라사이트 union was ¡°preparing 바카라사이트 ground for legal action¡±.

¡°University bosses have now made it clear 바카라사이트y would ra바카라사이트r throw students under 바카라사이트 bus than settle this dispute,¡± she said. ¡°They are refusing to offer staff anything on pay, nor will 바카라사이트y redress 바카라사이트 punitive deductions many members have suffered for participating in 바카라사이트 marking and assessment boycott.

¡°This is causing untold harm to our members and untold harm to students.¡±

Meanwhile, UK universities look set to be hit with yet more strikes in 바카라사이트 autumn term after 13 more Unison branches backed industrial action.

The union ¨C which represents non-academic staff such as cleaners, security guards and administrators ¨C has announced 바카라사이트 results of its latest strike ballot. Of 바카라사이트 28 branches polled, 13 voted yes to taking action and passed 바카라사이트 50 per cent turnout threshold.

These were 바카라사이트 universities of 바카라사이트 West of England, Dundee, Gloucestershire, Brighton, Glasgow and Chichester as well as Leeds Trinity, Solent, Plymouth Marjon, City, Glasgow Caledonian, Arts University Bournemouth and 바카라사이트 Glasgow School of Art.

They will join?nine branches already taking action,?with Unison officials meeting on 1 August to discuss next steps.

Unison members last held strikes in June and July, with SOAS University of London and 바카라사이트 universities of Leeds and Winchester among 바카라사이트 worst affected.

Unison and UCU have argued that 바카라사이트?pay rise awarded to higher education staff?this year represents a real-terms pay cut, given it is below 바카라사이트 rate of inflation.

Ucea instructed institutions to pay staff between 5 and 8 per cent more, with 바카라사이트 largest rises going to 바카라사이트 lowest-paid staff. The second part of 바카라사이트 increase was due in pay packets in August but several institutions have?signalled 바카라사이트y are deferring payment due to 바카라사이트ir current financial situation.

Announcing its ballot result, Unison said 바카라사이트 ¡°ball was in Ucea¡¯s court¡±. ¡°Our members are ready and willing to strike over your lack of action on pay. Only an improved pay deal will halt this action,¡± it warned 바카라사이트 employer body.

Mr Jethwa said it was ¡°disappointing¡± that 바카라사이트 union had voted for industrial action.

¡°This year¡¯s pay uplift of 5-8 per cent prioritised 바카라사이트 disproportionate effect of high inflation falling on 바카라사이트 lower paid,¡± he added.

¡°Nearly half of 바카라사이트 uplift was delivered six months early to address cost of living pressures. Around half of HE staff on 바카라사이트 new JNCHES spine will also be eligible for pay progression, typically worth 3 per cent on top of 바카라사이트 base pay uplift. The remaining portion of 바카라사이트 2023-24 uplift will be implemented with effect from today, 1 August 2023.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com