21 April 2023
HE institutions have a duty to protect their students during the MAB
Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive of UCEA, said:
“It is disheartening that UCU, through its HEC, continues to try and push its members to disrupt students. The prolonged industrial action has been isolated and low impact, so it’s disappointing that UCU is now attempting a Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) at this important time for students during the academic year.
"It is simply untrue that HE employers withholding pay for not fulfilling contracts are "threats" that are "aimed at intimidating". Policies on withholding pay are the opposite: clear and factual, communicated to staff, and aimed at protecting students. HE institutions have a duty to protect their students and so they reject partial performance and - as UCU knows - they are legally entitled to withhold full pay for partial performance of duties such as MAB.
"HE institutions respect employees’ right to take lawful industrial action and, in turn, UCU needs to respect the employers' right to withhold pay for not fulfilling contracts. Each autonomous HE institution is of course fully focused on managing this period of potential disruption as best they can for their students. We are disappointed that UCU is encouraging its members to target students.
"UCU must be honest with its members about the fact that there is no possibility of new or revised pay offers from the employers in the 2023-24 pay round. Employers have looked after staff as best we can: with an early uplift that will be the highest uplift in nearly 20 years of collective HE pay negotiations alongside the Acas agreed pay related ToR. Now employers have to look after students as best they can: limiting any potential targeted MAB damage to their studies at this vital time of year.
"Despite the financial pressures facing the sector, this year’s pay award is comparable to settlements in the wider economy. Most HE institutions continue to face considerable financial uncertainty, with many posting deficits. Home student tuition fees have been frozen until at least 2025 and many HE institutions are also looking at substantial increases in employer contributions in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme*.”
*Employer contributions to the Teacher's Pension Scheme are currently 23.7% and could rise to nearer 30% from April 2024.
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)
HE institutions have a duty to protect their students during the MAB
Raj Jethwa, Chief Executive of UCEA, said:
“It is disheartening that UCU, through its HEC, continues to try and push its members to disrupt students. The prolonged industrial action has been isolated and low impact, so it’s disappointing that UCU is now attempting a Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) at this important time for students during the academic year.
"It is simply untrue that HE employers withholding pay for not fulfilling contracts are "threats" that are "aimed at intimidating". Policies on withholding pay are the opposite: clear and factual, communicated to staff, and aimed at protecting students. HE institutions have a duty to protect their students and so they reject partial performance and - as UCU knows - they are legally entitled to withhold full pay for partial performance of duties such as MAB.
"HE institutions respect employees’ right to take lawful industrial action and, in turn, UCU needs to respect the employers' right to withhold pay for not fulfilling contracts. Each autonomous HE institution is of course fully focused on managing this period of potential disruption as best they can for their students. We are disappointed that UCU is encouraging its members to target students.
"UCU must be honest with its members about the fact that there is no possibility of new or revised pay offers from the employers in the 2023-24 pay round. Employers have looked after staff as best we can: with an early uplift that will be the highest uplift in nearly 20 years of collective HE pay negotiations alongside the Acas agreed pay related ToR. Now employers have to look after students as best they can: limiting any potential targeted MAB damage to their studies at this vital time of year.
"Despite the financial pressures facing the sector, this year’s pay award is comparable to settlements in the wider economy. Most HE institutions continue to face considerable financial uncertainty, with many posting deficits. Home student tuition fees have been frozen until at least 2025 and many HE institutions are also looking at substantial increases in employer contributions in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme*.”
*Employer contributions to the Teacher's Pension Scheme are currently 23.7% and could rise to nearer 30% from April 2024.
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)
