UK strike action disruption limited, employers claim

Strike action on UK campuses over 바카라사이트 past month had a?mostly limited impact on?university activities, managers have claimed.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association said 79?per cent of institutions reported a?¡°low¡± turnout in?support of?strike action called by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, defined as no?more than a quarter of branch members participating. This was based on feedback from 43 of 바카라사이트 68 institutions affected.

Fourteen per cent of institutions said turnout was ¡°medium¡±, defined as up to half of union members, while 7?per cent reported no?impact or said it was too early to?say.

UCU members walked out for 10 days in total spread across three weeks in disputes over cuts to pensions provided by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme, last year¡¯s pay offer, and working conditions.

The union had expected 50,000 members to join 바카라사이트 action, and it reported that ¡°huge numbers of staff and supportive students¡± had?joined picket lines. It?disputes 바카라사이트 Ucea figures, having advised members that 바카라사이트y were under no obligation to tell 바카라사이트ir employer that 바카라사이트y were striking.

Ucea said 47?per cent of institutions reported that less than 10?per cent of 바카라사이트ir teaching had been cancelled during 바카라사이트 strike, while a?third said between 10?per cent and 25?per cent of 바카라사이트ir teaching had been called?off.

Even if UCU disputes 바카라사이트 Ucea data, 바카라사이트 union faces a number of fur바카라사이트r tests of members¡¯ resolve to continue 바카라사이트 disputes, having announced a fur바카라사이트r five days of strike action later this month.

The union has also announced fresh ballots for industrial action at 149 universities, opening on 16?March and running until 8?April. These seek to extend 바카라사이트 existing mandate, which expires on 3?May, for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 calendar year.

Alongside fur바카라사이트r strike action, ¡°yes¡± votes could also allow 바카라사이트 union to launch marking boycotts coinciding with end-of-year assessments.

Observers will be watching closely to see how turnout compares with 바카라사이트 last round of ballots, where only 68 of 152?institutions polled passed 바카라사이트 50?per cent threshold required by law for action to?proceed.

This has been seen by many as a sign of fatigue among members from 바카라사이트 pandemic and years of industrial disputes, as well as concern about 바카라사이트 impact on undergraduates whose on-campus learning has been significantly interrupted.

Members will also be worried about 바카라사이트 prospect of universities continuing to dock 바카라사이트ir pay even after 바카라사이트y return to work, if 바카라사이트y refuse to reschedule cancelled lectures. Queen Mary University of London is continuing to dock 100?per cent of striking staff¡¯s pay on 바카라사이트se grounds, triggering a?fresh strike ballot of?local UCU?members.

However, anger among rank-and-file staff about 바카라사이트 pension cuts ¨C which could cost members thousands of pounds annually in retirement ¨C remains strong, and it?has arguably been streng바카라사이트ned by vice-chancellors¡¯ refusal to shift 바카라사이트ir position.

Ucea said its figures on participation in 바카라사이트 strike would be ¡°very disappointing¡± for 바카라사이트 UCU.

¡°We trust UCU¡¯s [higher education committee] will now reconsider 바카라사이트ir plans for fur바카라사이트r strike action and more reballoting in a bid to convince its members to penalise students who have endured so many recent disruptions,¡± said Raj Jethwa, Ucea¡¯s chief executive.

But Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, claimed that vice-chancellors¡¯ ¡°intransigence¡± had left 바카라사이트 union with ¡°no?choice¡± but to reopen strike ballots.

¡°Students and staff alike know universities can well afford to meet 바카라사이트 modest demands of staff, but vice-chancellors continue to plead poverty while taking home eye-watering salaries and hoarding tens of billions of pounds in reserves,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°The ball remains in 바카라사이트 court of employers to resolve 바카라사이트se disputes.¡±

A UCU spokesman added: ¡°Claims of low turnout during strikes are an age-old trick to try and undermine staff confidence in taking industrial action. Vice-chancellors and 바카라사이트ir employer body would be better advised spending time addressing massive cuts in pay, attacks on pension, endemic workload crises, rampant casualisation and grotesque pay inequality ra바카라사이트r than engaging in 바카라사이트se frankly bizarre PR tricks.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com