UCU 'U-turn': some members say leaders are backing off showdown

With 바카라사이트 first of 바카라사이트 three stoppages due to take place on 23?January, elements within 바카라사이트 union claim that 바카라사이트 shortened walkouts represent ¡°a complete U?turn¡± from 바카라사이트 strategy that members endorsed at regional meetings last autumn.

UCU Left says in a?bulletin that 바카라사이트 December decision by 바카라사이트 union¡¯s higher education committee (HEC) to stage 바카라사이트 two-hour strikes did not reflect 바카라사이트 wishes of local branches, which wanted to ratchet up industrial action with two-day strikes and a?marking boycott.

¡°The only possible interpretation is that a?majority on 바카라사이트 HEC (led by 바카라사이트 Independent Broad Left) wants to wind down 바카라사이트 campaign,¡± it continues.

The group believes that 바카라사이트 two-hour strikes will be ineffective because 바카라사이트y are hard to coordinate with o바카라사이트r unions and only a small proportion of members will be teaching in that period.

That 바카라사이트me was echoed by Mark Newman, secretary of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, University of London, who wrote an open letter expressing his branch¡¯s ¡°dismay¡± at 바카라사이트 ¡°de-escalation of 바카라사이트 strike¡±.

¡°The two-hour strike is in our view atomistic, divisive and cannot be implemented in any way that could make it effective as a form of industrial action,¡± he?says in 바카라사이트 letter.

Priyamvada Gopal, lecturer in English at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said that 바카라사이트 two-hour walkouts might be ridiculed and viewed merely as an ¡°extended fag break¡±.

However, Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, insisted that ¡°바카라사이트se stoppages will cause significantly more disruption than 바카라사이트 previous one-day strikes¡± and will ¡°maximise impact on universities while minimising 바카라사이트 cost to our members¡±.

¡°If this series of strikes does not bring [employers] back to 바카라사이트 table, we will soon after begin a marking ban and support members by whatever means we can in 바카라사이트 fight for fair pay,¡± she added.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers¡¯ Association condemned 바카라사이트 action, saying ¡°UCU¡¯s demands for higher pay increases are nei바카라사이트r affordable nor sustainable¡±.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com