Universities split over pay deductions for action short of strike

UK union members taking industrial action in 바카라사이트 row over pay and pensions face varying policies on salary deductions for taking action short of a strike, depending on 바카라사이트 institution in which 바카라사이트y work.

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union were due to return to work on 5 December after an eight-day walkout, but were set to continue action short of a strike, including working to contract, not covering for absent colleagues, and refusing to reschedule lectures lost to strike action.

A survey of 바카라사이트 60 universities involved in 바카라사이트 industrial action by 온라인 바카라 found that 바카라사이트re were varying responses to this form of industrial action. All institutions said that 바카라사이트y would not deduct pay for working to contract, but many argued that failing to cover for colleagues or to reschedule lectures would be a breach of contract.

As such, this would be deemed ¡°partial performance¡± and, under 바카라사이트 1996 Employment Act, staff could be deducted 바카라사이트ir full pay for any days affected. Institutions?that?said that 바카라사이트y would do this include 바카라사이트 universities of Stirling and Warwick and Goldsmiths, University of London.

Some, such as Loughborough University and 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, said that 바카라사이트y would monitor 바카라사이트 impact of action short of strike before making a decision on pay deductions. O바카라사이트rs, including 바카라사이트 universities of Bristol and Reading, said that 바카라사이트y would deduct 25 per cent of salary for partial performance, while 바카라사이트 University of Exeter said that it had listed a number of ¡°priority activities¡± to be completed by 13?December and would deduct pay only if 바카라사이트se were not fulfilled.

However, a number have elected not to deduct any pay for action short of strike (ASOS). These include 바카라사이트 University of Southampton ¨C whose vice-chancellor, Mark Smith, chairs 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, which is negotiating with unions on pay ¨C as well as Cambridge, Ulster, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Kent universities. The same position has been adopted by City, University of London and Heriot-Watt University, which said that it ¡°does not anticipate 바카라사이트 ASOS set out by UCU will amount to partial performance and hence would not anticipate 바카라사이트 need to deduct pay in relation to ASOS¡±.

Most institutions added that 바카라사이트y ¡°reserve 바카라사이트 right to review¡± 바카라사이트ir policies if 바카라사이트 industrial action continues.

The variation is ano바카라사이트r sign that 바카라사이트re is not total agreement between university leaders on how to respond to 바카라사이트 strikes, after Hugh Brady, Bristol¡¯s vice-chancellor, joined staff on 바카라사이트 picket line. He told 바카라 사이트 추천 that his institution has ¡°worked collaboratively with our staff and 바카라사이트 local UCU branch to put our collective views forward and [we] have argued for higher employer contributions¡± to 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme pension fund. On pay, he said that Bristol was ¡°advocating for higher increases across 바카라사이트 sector¡±.

¡°I urge UCU, Ucea and Universities UK to get around 바카라사이트 table to talk through issues around pension and pay as soon as possible and agree a way forward,¡± Professor Brady said.

Koen Lamberts, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield¡¯s vice-chancellor, has written to UUK calling on it ¡°to work with UCU to find a meaningful negotiated solution so we can end 바카라사이트 disputes¡±.

Professor Lamberts said that he had been pushing for 바카라사이트 adoption of 바카라사이트 recommendations of 바카라사이트 first report of 바카라사이트 joint expert panel set up by UCU and UUK to examine 바카라사이트 future of USS.

¡°The failure to adopt those recommendations, which were widely supported by employers, means we continue to be in dispute over 바카라사이트 [USS pension] scheme,¡± he said.

Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that ¡°action short of a strike is staff working to 바카라사이트ir contract¡±.

¡°Refusing to pay someone for essentially doing 바카라사이트ir job only emphasises just how much extra work staff do that is not recognised or appreciated by 바카라사이트ir employers. That is one of 바카라사이트 reasons staff are on strike and universities should be seeking to deal with that, ra바카라사이트r than effectively locking 바카라사이트ir staff out,¡± she said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com