You may have read in the press this week that Universities and Colleges Union (UCU), have announced that unless the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) agree to engage in meaningful talks over pay, they will sanction a national marking boycott from 28 April 2014.

The BBC has covered the story here: University marking boycott threatens final exams

This “ultimate sanction” follows on from a number of full or part day strikes which have taken place this academic year and is designed to get the UCEA around the table in serious negotiations long before the boycott takes place. The Students’ Union recognises industrial action as an entirely legitimate means of raising such concerns. However, we have concerns where industrial action unnecessarily and seriously impacts on students – including on the marking and assessment of work, and the ability of students to graduate.

As your President, I am writing to inform you that the Students’ Union intends to take a stance of opposing the marking boycott. Whilst we sympathise with the UCU campaign for better pay, we do not think that a marking boycott, which will negatively impact our students, is the right way to achieve this.

We have raised the issue with the University, and have been given assurances that our students’ academic experience will be protected and those students completing their studies this year and graduating in July will do so as planned.

We have requested that the University ensure that all Schools review the impact of the strikes that have taken place to date and put measures in place to ensure that all learning outcomes missed as a result of cancelled lectures are delivered. This will ensure that none of our students are disadvantaged as a result of the actions.

Pay for University employees is not decided by individual institutions; it is negotiated nationally between the Higher Education trade unions such as UCU and UCEA. Therefore this strike action is part of a national dispute. The call for a marking boycott from UCU is intended to encourage the UCEA to negotiate over pay as soon as possible and avoid the action taking place. The Students’ Union sincerely hope that this announcement will have its intended effect.

However, our priority as a Students Union is to stand up for, improve and protect our students’ University experience. We appeal to the UCU to resolve this issue, and to ensure that whatever the outcome of the talks, measures are put in place to ensure that our students across all years and Schools are not unfairly disadvantaged and that their final year experience is protected. 

Please be reassured that we will do everything we can to keep you informed over the coming weeks / months.

Mishal Saeed

President, University of Salford Students' Union