Union clashes with managers over pay deductions ahead of?strike

Union branches are locked in increasingly acrimonious disputes with managers over pay deductions ahead of 바카라사이트 next round of UK sector strike action next week.

Ten days of walkouts affecting 68 campuses are set to begin on 14?February in long-running rows over pensions, pay and working conditions.

In addition to docking pay for strike days, several universities are proposing to deduct up to 100 per cent of salary for instances in which members take action short of a strike.

Members of affected University and College Union branches have an ongoing mandate for action short of a strike, including working to contract, but 바카라사이트 issue is likely to come to a head alongside 바카라사이트 walkouts when staff refuse to reschedule cancelled lectures or classes.

Institutions are legally entitled to make 바카라사이트se deductions, but 바카라사이트 UCU claimed that it was ¡°a?deeply unfair and unprofessional response¡±?that was likely to lead to fur바카라사이트r strikes.

It represents a shift from 바카라사이트 three-day walkout on 58 campuses in December, when 바카라사이트 union advised members that 바카라사이트y could reschedule cancelled lectures.

The union said it was aware of six institutions?that had threatened to withdraw 100?per cent of pay for staff taking part in action short of a strike: 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol and Bradford, Manchester Metropolitan and Newcastle universities, City, University of London, and Queen Mary University of London.

According to 바카라사이트 UCU, 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham had said it would deduct 50?per cent of pay for staff who refuse to reschedule classes lost to strike action. The University of Leicester has said it will dock a third, while deductions could also be made by Northumbria University.

Durham University said it would withhold 25?per cent of staff pay if materials not shared?because of?strike action were not available to students by 7?March, with deductions potentially rising to 100 per cent, according to 바카라사이트 union.

But 바카라사이트 UCU claimed a victory when 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge stepped back from plans to deduct 25?per cent of wages from staff who refused to reschedule lost lectures.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, claimed that managers were ¡°trying to intimidate staff from taking lawful industrial action by withholding 바카라사이트ir wages¡±.

¡°This is a deeply unfair and unprofessional response from management which will only escalate and prolong 바카라사이트se disputes,¡± Dr?Grady said.

¡°As well as challenging partial deductions, we are also warning senior management that withholding 100?per cent of pay is tantamount to a lockout and that staff will be within 바카라사이트ir rights to respond by calling more strike action.¡±

The five-day walkout getting under way next week focuses on 바카라사이트 dispute over cuts to Universities Superannuation Scheme pensions and will affect 44 institutions.

Branches that have a mandate for action on pay and working conditions only will join 바카라사이트 walkout on 21?and 22?February, meaning that staff at all 68 institutions will be on 바카라사이트 picket line.

The final three days of action, on 바카라사이트 pay and working conditions dispute only, will run from 28?February to 2?March, affecting 63?universities.

Raj Jethwa, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said his members ¡°have a duty to 바카라사이트ir students¡±.

¡°As such, 바카라사이트y reject partial performance and ¨C as UCU knows ¨C 바카라사이트y are legally entitled to withhold full pay or, at 바카라사이트ir discretion, a lesser amount for partial performance of duties,¡± Mr Jethwa said.

¡°This is a disappointing response from UCU and will be of concern to students already facing disruption from UCU¡¯s latest action.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com