University staff strike amid wage cut row over marking boycott

University and College Union members at Edinburgh University walked out on Friday.

Edinburgh University staff are staging strike action (PA) (PA Wire)

University staff are on strike after a union claimed their employer said wages will be cut by half in response to a boycott.

Staff at Edinburgh University taking part in the University and College Union’s (UCU) marking and assessment boycott will have their wages deducted by 50%, though management could deduct 100% of earnings, the union said.

Workers on strike on Friday staged demonstrations in Edinburgh’s Bristo Square, George Square in Glasgow, and outside the university’s Nucleus building.

The UCU also announced there will be more strikes throughout the new academic year, with 10 days of walkouts to take place in September.

In April, the UCU renewed its industrial action mandate, allowing strikes to be called for another six months.

The last thing staff want to do is take industrial action, but over 10 years of pay being held down and worsening conditions has left us with no option

Sophia Woodman, UCU

The marking and assessment boycott began on April 20, as the UCU hit out at what it described as “a real-terms pay cut, working conditions including increasing casualisation, pay gaps and unmanageable workloads”.

Edinburgh UCU branch spokeswoman Sophia Woodman said: “Edinburgh University has just under £2.5 billion worth of reserves.

“This university and the sector can afford to pay staff enough to support themselves through this cost-of-living crisis.”

“The last thing staff want to do is take industrial action, but over 10 years of pay being held down and worsening conditions has left us with no option.

“Edinburgh principal Peter Mathieson should stop trying to circumvent lawful industrial action short of strike and join the increasing number of vice-chancellors calling for new, meaningful talks to resolve the dispute.

“Our branch is ready and willing to issue a joint statement with our employer calling for the reopening of negotiations.”

The university said it intends to pay full pension contributions for the staff on strike, meaning that although wages will be deducted, they will still maintain full pension benefits.

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: “Participation in the marking and assessment boycott is considered partial performance of contract, particularly at this time of year, and varying deductions are being made by institutions across the UK impacted by this action.

“Disappointingly, our efforts to seek a local resolution with UCU leadership have been rejected.

“Last month, we appealed directly to colleagues participating in this action and offered to return any withheld pay and cancel planned salary deductions if they agree to mark and assess all boycotted work by the end of July, prioritising students due to complete their programme this year.

“We are frustrated that UCU’s response has been to continue targeting students with further strike action.

“Pay and pensions are nationally negotiated, which is the system preferred by UCU.

“We are not able to make decisions in isolation without national compromise, though we endeavour to influence these negotiations where we can.

“We will continue to engage in conversations with UCU Edinburgh on other employment matters which are within our local control and where we can make improvements in the ways we support our staff at the University of Edinburgh.”