UCU suspends assessment ban as Keele yields on restructuring

A breakthrough has been achieved in 바카라사이트 industrial dispute at Keele University, where restructuring plans had driven 바카라사이트 University and College Union to declare an academic boycott of 바카라사이트 institution.

The row over plans for changes at 바카라사이트 School of Economics and Management Studies (SEMS) had escalated to a boycott that was due to begin this week.

However, at 바카라사이트 eleventh hour, a meeting between Janet Finch, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, and union representatives has averted "greylisting" by 바카라사이트 union.

The UCU's industrial action, which included a boycott of student assessment, has also been suspended.

The agreement to negotiate includes a number of concessions by 바카라사이트 university, but it was made too late to prevent disruption of a conference at Keele this week.

A number of academics withdrew from 바카라사이트 one-day colloquium, which had been billed as a celebration of 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities at Keele, in support of 바카라사이트 UCU's position.

One of those who withdrew, Richard Sennett, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics, said he had also intended to refuse an honorary doctorate.

The dispute focuses on plans to replace 바카라사이트 SEMS with a new business school, with 바카라사이트 threat of accompanying compulsory redundancies.

Sue Davis, 바카라사이트 UCU's regional representative, said 바카라사이트 university had reiterated its pledge to do all it could to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Keele also agreed to extend 바카라사이트 period for voluntary redundancies to January 2009.

Ms Davis said 바카라사이트 university had promised that academics would be engaged in 바카라사이트 restructuring process, and had also agreed not to deduct pay in respect of 바카라사이트 industrial action already taken.

In a statement, Keele said it was "delighted" that a breakthrough had been achieved. It said it was "confident that we can now move forward towards our goal to create a vibrant and successful school of management".

john.gill@tsleducation.com.