University staff stand to lose pay for partial performance

Universities in the United Kingdom have threatened to deduct up to 100% of the pay of workers taking action short of a strike, while the University and College Union (UCU) said the move would “escalate” a wave of strike action due to start next week, with more staff forced to take to the picket lines, writes Will Hazell for iNews.

Last month, the UCU announced that students at 68 UK universities would be hit by up to 10 days of strike action from Valentine’s Day in a row over pay and pensions. In addition to the walkout, staff are taking ongoing industrial action short of a strike. This includes not covering for absent colleagues and not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strikes.

The UCU claimed six universities – Queen Mary University of London, City University of London, Manchester Metropolitan University, Newcastle University, the University of Bristol, and the University of Bradford – had threatened to withdraw 100% of pay. A number of other institutions have said there will be partial pay reductions for staff engaging in action short of a strike. On Thursday 10 February, the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association – which represents universities in pay negotiations – said it had recommended that institutions dock 100%.
Full report on the iNews site