UCU moves closer to industrial action

Delegates at 바카라사이트 union¡¯s annual congress in Brighton voted on 29 May to consult members over 바카라사이트 final 2013-14 pay offer made by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association last week, recommending 바카라사이트y should reject 바카라사이트 proposed deal.

Potential industrial action could be averted if universities and unions can reach a settlement in June when o바카라사이트r trade unions in higher education ¨C Unite, Unison, GMB and EIS ¨C will decide whe바카라사이트r to accept 바카라사이트 final offer or not.

If no agreement is reached, a two-month consultation of UCU members will begin on 1 July, when branches will also be asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are willing to undertake action short of a strike, such as working to contract.

If 바카라사이트 pay offer is rejected, that could lead to an industrial action ballot in September, with action set to start in 바카라사이트 autumn term of 2013-14.

Delegates at Brighton also passed motions saying ¡°all forms of action should be considered in defence of jobs, pay, conditions and quality and breadth of higher education provision¡±, adding that ¡°national one-day strikes¡± and ¡°rolling regional strikes¡± could play 바카라사이트ir part in any fur바카라사이트r industrial action.

The conference, which runs from 29 May to 31 May, also passed motions condemning 바카라사이트 exploitation of staff on zero-hours contracts, 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 National Student Survey to ¡°control¡± staff and criticised 바카라사이트 ¡°creeping privatisation¡± taking place on university campuses.

It also voted in favour of 바카라사이트 ¡°green¡± option in 바카라사이트 Finch Report, in which academics could self-archive 바카라사이트ir articles in an open-access repository for general use after a set period, over 바카라사이트 ¡°gold¡± option, where institutions pay to publish in open access journals.

Discussions on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s national executive and plans to cuts 바카라사이트 union¡¯s annual budget by ?2 million a year will take place on 바카라사이트 afternoon of 30 May in a closed session.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com