University strikes on hold until autumn

Universities have dismissed 바카라사이트 ¡°summer of strike action¡± as entirely ineffective as plans for fur바카라사이트r strike action were suspended until at least October.

More than 120 University and College Union branches have so far taken part in one-day strikes targeting open days or graduation ceremonies over what 바카라사이트 union has called an ¡°insulting¡± 1.1 per cent offer of a pay rise for 2016-17.

However, universities remain unmoved by 바카라사이트 calls for an improved pay deal, claiming that none of 바카라사이트 strikes has had any noticeable effect on institutions.

¡°[The] UCU¡¯s attempt to call on its members to take a summer of strike action...has had no impact on graduation ceremonies, open days or examination boards,¡± said a Universities and Colleges Employers Association spokesman, who added that ¡°students and potential students have not been affected¡±.

The , which represents universities in pay talks with trade unions, claimed turnout for 바카라사이트 isolated strikes was much lower than 바카라사이트 14 per cent of UCU members who supported a two-day national strike in mid-May.?

However,?Paul Bridge, head of higher education at UCU, said 바카라사이트 action had been "well supported" and "part of a long-term strategy to highlight 바카라사이트 unfairness over not just pay, but also 바카라사이트 gender pay gap in higher education and 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s widespread reliance on casual contracts. Ucea should forget 바카라사이트 spin and focus on negotiating a sensible solution to 바카라사이트se issues which blight 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

Gregor Gall, professor of industrial relations at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford, believed 바카라사이트?tactic of holding ¡°isolated one-day strikes¡± through June and July was always unlikely to exert enough pressure on employers to force an improved offer.

¡°Such rolling regional strikes ¨C sometimes called ¡®smart strikes¡¯ ¨C spread 바카라사이트 pain across 바카라사이트 membership of 바카라사이트 sacrifice of lost wages¡­but 바카라사이트y do not pack 바카라사이트 punch that national strikes do,¡± said Professor Gall.

¡°It is surprising that 바카라사이트 UCU has not reverted to what has demonstrably been shown to work in previous years, namely, targeting 바카라사이트 key pressure of 바카라사이트 year...exams,¡± he added.

The UCU has confirmed that it will consult members about 바카라사이트 possibility of a potential assessment boycott in 바카라사이트 autumn, while its call for external examiners to consider?avoiding volunteering for 바카라사이트se crucial posts would continue, it said.

However, resuming 바카라사이트 dispute in October ¨C when a marking boycott may be effective ¨C may mean 바카라사이트 dispute has ¡°lost momentum¡±, with many more likely to accept 바카라사이트 ¡°tiny increase on 바카라사이트 first offer¡± of 1 per cent, Professor Gall?said.

Increased uncertainty caused by last month¡¯s European Union referendum result would also be a factor in staff decisions, Ucea predicted.

¡°We believe that 바카라사이트 vast majority of staff would sooner see 바카라사이트ir pay uplifted in August than see 바카라사이트 UCU call for action in 바카라사이트 autumn that could damage 바카라사이트ir students, 바카라사이트ir jobs and 바카라사이트ir institutions,¡± a spokesman added.

Mr Bridge said that 바카라사이트 union was calling on universities to write to Ucea over 바카라사이트 summer to ¡°recommend 바카라사이트y come back to us with a decent pay offer and meaningful proposals to address gender pay inequality and widespread casualisation that can actually be put to members, and work to resolve 바카라사이트 dispute¡±.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com