There is no need for UCU's leaders to try and target students with MAB
12 June 2023
There is simply no need for UCU’s leaders to try and pursue a failing Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) when employers are at the table to negotiate, as they have been for months. Employers now need to consider how best to progress the reform of the pay spine, workload, contract types and reducing the disability, ethnicity and gender pay gaps. UCEA is reiterating that it wants to progress this important work with UCU joining employers and other trade unions.
UCEA’s communications with UCU and public facing news releases and statements (below) have been clear and consistent for months – that the 2023-24 pay uplift talks are complete and employers are at the table to discuss the very important pay related items.
The proposals to begin talks on these vital matters were renegotiated and adjusted repeatedly until the UCU and other union negotiators were satisfied with the much-revised final version. UCU’s leaders continue to undermine this by trying to target students who the employers have a duty to protect. It is clear that UCU misled its members by suggesting that the MAB could lead to a revised pay uplift for 2023-24. The MAB has continued for more than seven weeks but is clear that the vast majority of staff are not participating and are delivering and caring for students at this vital time of the year.
Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive of UCEA, said:
“UCU must be honest with its members about the fact that there is just no need for this ongoing attempted marking and assessment boycott, as there is no possibility of a new pay uplift in the 2023-24 pay round. UCEA and its HE institutions have confirmed this consistently. UCU has known that discussions for pay were completed in mid-February. But while change to the pay uplift is simply not an option, UCEA has been at the table waiting for UCU to join to progress the important pay related issues, as agreed in the terms of reference*. These negotiations would build upon the good practice in employment which exists across the sector. Employers urge UCU to provide clarity and honesty to its own members, particularly those who are attempting the boycott to target students. Employers remain committed to beginning negotiations on pay related matters as soon as the marking and assessment boycott is called off.”
“HE institutions respect employees’ right to take lawful industrial action, but the marking and assessment boycott is a choice made by UCU and in turn by its individual members. Students have no such choice and that is why HE institutions with a duty to protect students will withhold pay for partial performance. It is wrong for UCU to encourage small numbers of its members to try to inflict damage on students in pursuit of a higher pay award that is simply unaffordable.”
Notes:
UCEA news releases and statements have been consistent in confirming that pay talks have completed and that employers are at the table to discuss important non pay items.
24 February - The early uplift of the 2023-24 pay award
‘HE institutions have been advised of the pay uplift to be implemented in March. This follows the conclusion of Phase one of the talks. At the unions’ request, UCEA agreed that no uplift would be implemented until the beginning of March. We have respected this request but UCEA and the trade unions have also agreed that an impasse had been reached in respect of the pay uplift.’
15 March - UCEA and TUs consulting following agreement on the ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
‘Despite ongoing strike action attempts and further threats of disruption, employers have remained committed to these talks over essential terms of reference for key non-pay issues.’
17 March - UCEA Board endorses ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
‘The UCEA Board met yesterday and endorsed the terms of reference agreed as part of the Acas negotiations. UCEA is fully committed to working with the HE trade unions on the implementation of the terms of reference to positively reset industrial relations in our sector.’
17 March - UCEA 'deeply disappointed' at UCU's HEC decision
‘The agreement reached earlier this week reflected the employers’ genuine desire to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. There is a tangible offer on the table from employers to negotiate on the issues at the heart of this dispute. It is disappointing that the HEC has refused to put this to members. The HEC decisions, therefore, are even more disappointing because employers have been clear that these important talks cannot begin while strike action continues, or strike dates are set.’
23 March - Statement from the UCEA Board on the 2023-24 pay uplift and the Acas terms of reference
‘UCEA has gone as far as it can in balancing a meaningful uplift with the viability of HEIs across the sector. It should be absolutely clear that UCEA has no ability to improve upon the 2023-24 pay award. If the Joint Higher Education Trade Unions are willing to enter into negotiations on the basis of the Acas terms of reference, UCEA remains ready to begin talks on the understanding that no further industrial action, including ASOS, is called during these talks.’
17 April - UCEA response to UCU's latest ballot outcome
‘UCEA remains fully committed to working with the trade unions on the implementation of the Acas-facilitated terms of reference to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. This opportunity to address important issues, building on the extensive good practice which already exists in the sector, remains in place on the understanding that no further industrial action is called during these talks.’
22 May - UCEA welcomes the call for UCU to return to negotiations
‘UCEA welcomes the call for UCU to return to negotiations. The ball is in UCU’s court and we are sat at the negotiating table, waiting for UCU and the other trade unions to join us and discuss the important pay related issues, as agreed in the Acas facilitated agreed terms of reference. As UCU knows, negotiations on pay were completed in mid-February, but Acas talks continued and led to concrete proposals in relation to the reform of the pay spine; the disability, ethnicity and gender pay gaps; workload, and contract types. These proposals were renegotiated and agreed line by line with UCU’s negotiators.’
*UCEA Board endorses ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round - www.ucea.ac.uk/news-releases/17march23/
ENDS
For further information: Please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Communications and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk)
12 June 2023
There is simply no need for UCU’s leaders to try and pursue a failing Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) when employers are at the table to negotiate, as they have been for months. Employers now need to consider how best to progress the reform of the pay spine, workload, contract types and reducing the disability, ethnicity and gender pay gaps. UCEA is reiterating that it wants to progress this important work with UCU joining employers and other trade unions.
UCEA’s communications with UCU and public facing news releases and statements (below) have been clear and consistent for months – that the 2023-24 pay uplift talks are complete and employers are at the table to discuss the very important pay related items.
The proposals to begin talks on these vital matters were renegotiated and adjusted repeatedly until the UCU and other union negotiators were satisfied with the much-revised final version. UCU’s leaders continue to undermine this by trying to target students who the employers have a duty to protect. It is clear that UCU misled its members by suggesting that the MAB could lead to a revised pay uplift for 2023-24. The MAB has continued for more than seven weeks but is clear that the vast majority of staff are not participating and are delivering and caring for students at this vital time of the year.
Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive of UCEA, said:
“UCU must be honest with its members about the fact that there is just no need for this ongoing attempted marking and assessment boycott, as there is no possibility of a new pay uplift in the 2023-24 pay round. UCEA and its HE institutions have confirmed this consistently. UCU has known that discussions for pay were completed in mid-February. But while change to the pay uplift is simply not an option, UCEA has been at the table waiting for UCU to join to progress the important pay related issues, as agreed in the terms of reference*. These negotiations would build upon the good practice in employment which exists across the sector. Employers urge UCU to provide clarity and honesty to its own members, particularly those who are attempting the boycott to target students. Employers remain committed to beginning negotiations on pay related matters as soon as the marking and assessment boycott is called off.”
“HE institutions respect employees’ right to take lawful industrial action, but the marking and assessment boycott is a choice made by UCU and in turn by its individual members. Students have no such choice and that is why HE institutions with a duty to protect students will withhold pay for partial performance. It is wrong for UCU to encourage small numbers of its members to try to inflict damage on students in pursuit of a higher pay award that is simply unaffordable.”
Notes:
UCEA news releases and statements have been consistent in confirming that pay talks have completed and that employers are at the table to discuss important non pay items.
24 February - The early uplift of the 2023-24 pay award
‘HE institutions have been advised of the pay uplift to be implemented in March. This follows the conclusion of Phase one of the talks. At the unions’ request, UCEA agreed that no uplift would be implemented until the beginning of March. We have respected this request but UCEA and the trade unions have also agreed that an impasse had been reached in respect of the pay uplift.’
15 March - UCEA and TUs consulting following agreement on the ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
‘Despite ongoing strike action attempts and further threats of disruption, employers have remained committed to these talks over essential terms of reference for key non-pay issues.’
17 March - UCEA Board endorses ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round
‘The UCEA Board met yesterday and endorsed the terms of reference agreed as part of the Acas negotiations. UCEA is fully committed to working with the HE trade unions on the implementation of the terms of reference to positively reset industrial relations in our sector.’
17 March - UCEA 'deeply disappointed' at UCU's HEC decision
‘The agreement reached earlier this week reflected the employers’ genuine desire to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. There is a tangible offer on the table from employers to negotiate on the issues at the heart of this dispute. It is disappointing that the HEC has refused to put this to members. The HEC decisions, therefore, are even more disappointing because employers have been clear that these important talks cannot begin while strike action continues, or strike dates are set.’
23 March - Statement from the UCEA Board on the 2023-24 pay uplift and the Acas terms of reference
‘UCEA has gone as far as it can in balancing a meaningful uplift with the viability of HEIs across the sector. It should be absolutely clear that UCEA has no ability to improve upon the 2023-24 pay award. If the Joint Higher Education Trade Unions are willing to enter into negotiations on the basis of the Acas terms of reference, UCEA remains ready to begin talks on the understanding that no further industrial action, including ASOS, is called during these talks.’
17 April - UCEA response to UCU's latest ballot outcome
‘UCEA remains fully committed to working with the trade unions on the implementation of the Acas-facilitated terms of reference to positively reset industrial relations in our sector. This opportunity to address important issues, building on the extensive good practice which already exists in the sector, remains in place on the understanding that no further industrial action is called during these talks.’
22 May - UCEA welcomes the call for UCU to return to negotiations
‘UCEA welcomes the call for UCU to return to negotiations. The ball is in UCU’s court and we are sat at the negotiating table, waiting for UCU and the other trade unions to join us and discuss the important pay related issues, as agreed in the Acas facilitated agreed terms of reference. As UCU knows, negotiations on pay were completed in mid-February, but Acas talks continued and led to concrete proposals in relation to the reform of the pay spine; the disability, ethnicity and gender pay gaps; workload, and contract types. These proposals were renegotiated and agreed line by line with UCU’s negotiators.’
*UCEA Board endorses ToR for key non-pay items in the 2023-24 pay round - www.ucea.ac.uk/news-releases/17march23/
ENDS
For further information: Please contact Andy Fryer, Head of Communications and Membership (a.fryer@ucea.ac.uk) or Marc Whittaker, Communications and Events Manager (m.whittaker@ucea.ac.uk)
