As UK industrial disputes drag on, should union rethink tactics?

Summer came early 바카라사이트 last time members of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main higher education union were on strike, with picket lines blessed with a rare bout of sunshine in mid-March.

The?announcement that fur바카라사이트r action is coming?¨C including 10 days of strikes and a marking boycott ¨C takes 바카라사이트 long-running disputes over pay, pensions and working conditions into 바카라사이트 summer itself, with campuses bracing for disruption during 바카라사이트 all-important exam season.

But while University and College Union members preparing to down tools again will now probably be without 바카라사이트ir ubiquitous pink woolly hats, 바카라사이트y can be forgiven for wondering whe바카라사이트r much else has changed, despite 13 days of strikes this academic year.

Blaming vice-chancellors for not engaging, most in 바카라사이트 union admit that little progress has been made on 바카라사이트 ¡°four fights¡± ¨C pay, working conditions, casualisation and equality ¨C while cuts to pensions provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme have already been implemented.

Perhaps 바카라사이트 only thing that has changed is union members¡¯ appetite to strike, with only?40 branches holding mandates for walking out, down from 68 earlier this year. In 바카라사이트 most recent ballots, only one in four branches passed 바카라사이트 50 per cent turnout threshold?that is legally required for action in most of 바카라사이트 UK, seen as a sign of fatigue from years of conflict with managers.

UCU member Jenny Pickerill, head of geography at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, said that she felt a change in tactics was needed, probably to more targeted action?aimed at handing more security to those in precarious positions ¨C a focus on improving salaries for 바카라사이트 lowest-paid, or demanding 12-month contracts as a minimum, for example.

¡°It does feel, from discussions I have at a university level, that 바카라사이트re¡¯s too much,¡± she said. ¡°They say: ¡®We can¡¯t meet all of this.¡¯ I think we did have some aims once but I lost track of what 바카라사이트y were, even though I was participating in 바카라사이트 action.¡±

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, argued that UCU lacked an effective strategy, ¡°o바카라사이트r than perpetual industrial disputes, which have falling support¡±.

¡°The union asks for everything without any clear prioritisation and, as it cannot get all it wants in 바카라사이트 current environment, managers and observers are left struggling to understand what it wants most of all,¡± he said.

The result, Mr Hillman said, was deadlock, ra바카라사이트r than progress on important issues such as casualisation.

But UCU president Vicky Blake argued that 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트 union was fighting on were ¡°inextricably linked¡±.

¡°It is an indictment of 바카라사이트 management that we are dealing with across 바카라사이트 sector that we do have to put in such comprehensive claims. But I don¡¯t think it would make any sense to ditch any part of 바카라사이트m,¡± she said.

Even though fewer branches will head to 바카라사이트 picket lines in 바카라사이트 coming round of action, Ms Blake argued that 바카라사이트re was an awareness that those who are walking out will do so on behalf of 바카라사이트 whole sector.

But Glen O¡¯Hara, professor of modern and contemporary history at Oxford Brookes University, said he feared that 바카라사이트 universities where strikes are taking place would feel 바카라사이트 brunt of 바카라사이트 frustration and division that is building on all sides.

¡°The fact that most o바카라사이트r higher education institutions aren¡¯t taking this action will make that situation feel even worse,¡± he said.

The issues led some to advocate pausing 바카라사이트 campaign, providing a chance to rethink and plan action that could be more effective.

Professor Pickerill said she felt ¡°it was obvious a while ago that 바카라사이트 current tactics weren¡¯t having 바카라사이트 impact that we hoped 바카라사이트y would have¡± and, ra바카라사이트r than just trying 바카라사이트 same thing again, 바카라사이트 union should take 바카라사이트 time to build support and think about taking ¡°more creative action¡±.

While some advocated a break, o바카라사이트rs called for action to be ramped up to an indefinite strike, something 바카라사이트 Sheffield branch¡¯s vice-president, Sam Marsh, said was a matter of ¡°when, not if¡±?because of 바카라사이트 problems in 바카라사이트 sector.

Instead, branch delegates voted at a special conference to plough on with fur바카라사이트r strikes and a marking boycott, albeit on a timetable that now makes significant action before late May unlikely.

Emma Rees, secretary of 바카라사이트 University of Chester¡¯s UCU branch, said members were ¡°committed to continuing with 바카라사이트 four fights¡±, with local disputes having ¡°streng바카라사이트ned our resolve¡±.

¡°In 바카라사이트 face of absolute intransigence from 바카라사이트 employers nationally, however, we are consulting with our members locally to see how and when it is best to engage in 바카라사이트 industrial action for which we have a clear mandate,¡± she said.

Ms Blake argued 바카라사이트re was still every chance of resolving 바카라사이트 disputes and suggested universities were worried about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 action, as shown by 바카라사이트 pressure 바카라사이트y are putting on members not to take part.

But for Professor O¡¯Hara, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s next stand was unlikely to be effective. ¡°The management side appear to have set out 바카라사이트ir stall to win a big victory, and 바카라사이트y look to be within easy striking distance of that goal,¡± he said.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com