University Vice-Chancellor Charlie Jeffery has reacted decisviely in an email to students, following confirmation that the York UCU has backed a motion to continue industrial action in a marking and assessment boycott. This will commence from Thursday the 20th of April.
His disappointment was made clear, saying, “The timing of this escalation is very disappointing given the recent progress and constructive atmosphere in national negotiations.”
A boycott of this type has not happened at York before, however, it has been prepared for. To minimise disruption, this will involve “assigning alternative, well-qualified markers if necessary.”
Jeffery also gave an update saying that at a national level, apparent progress was being made on negotiating pensions between representatives of universities and higher education facilities with UCU.
He also said that the University was “committed to doing absolutely everything we can so that this boycott does not delay your progression, or the completion of your degree program or receiving your transcript [and] does not delay graduation ceremonies.”
In separate emails also released by individual faculty departments, such as the Department of History, department representatives heavily reiterated Jeffery’s plea to students “that all assessments need to be submitted as planned. Students must submit work according to published deadlines and must adhere to the guidance on extensions and exceptional circumstances.”
Although, the Department of History statement was a lot more sympathetic to the news of impending strike action, defending “colleagues [who] continue to feel that they must support the boycott in order to protect the quality of your teaching and learning environment into the future.”
This boycott is part of an ongoing dispute between Higher Education and UCU over pension cuts, as well as working conditions and pay for University employees, such as postgraduates, who are ineligible to join unions.
Jeffery’s comments correspond with news released yesterday (17th April) by the official UCU website that with 85% members backing a motion to move forward with pension proposals, they claim the union is close to a “historic victory”.
Needless to say, students, especially final-year undergraduates, will be very stressed at receiving this information, something which is recognised on both sides of the debate. One hopes such a recognition will allow effective negotiations to get underway as soon as possible, but it seems industrial disputes are far from being settled.