Universities warned of further sanctions if they dock pay in marking boycott

The University and College Union (UCU) has cautioned 69 universities affected by the marking boycott that they may face further sanctions if staff pay is docked.

It has stated that it would be unjust to fine members 100 percent of their wages for taking part in the boycott, (as some universities propose to do), as assessment only constitutes a minority of work for most academic staff.

Michael MacNeil, head of bargaining at the UCU, admonished the universities, of which Warwick is one, that confronting the issue by pay docking would, “only serve to exacerbate and prolong what is already a bitter dispute”.

He added that taking a punitive approach to the boycott may also, “cause long-lasting and deep-seated harm to industrial relations” between institutions.

The marking boycott, which started on November 6, involves university staff stopping marking work, and may result in students not receiving their assessment marks or having exams delayed.

It is a protest against proposed cuts made by Universities UK (UUK) to the staff pension scheme. These cuts are the result of an expected deficit made by the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).

The UCU envisage a loss of money for universities, severe impacts on pensions, and problems with recruiting and retaining staff from the cuts.

As a further warning, the UCU has said that, in addition to likely angry backlash from staff, it would isolate the worst culprits of docking as outcasts and pariahs through a full academic boycott.

The University of York is the only university so far to have proposed 100 percent pay docking from day one of the boycotts. As a contrast, Imperial College expect to deduct just 25 percent from staff wages – the UCU have recognised definite splits on the side of the employers.

It is unknown as to whether Warwick will implement pay docking on staff, but the university has previously criticised the lack of options put forward by the UUK regarding pensions.

General secretary of the UCU, Sally Hunt, said: “Docking 100% of pay from staff who are continuing to perform the vast majority of their duties is completely unethical and risks causing greater damage to students’ education.

“Punitive pay docking could lead to lectures and seminars being cancelled as members refuse to work for free. Any institution docking full pay and claiming it has students’ interests at heart is lying.”