“Members of Parliament and the House of Lords can see what many university leaders cannot; namely that these deductions are immoral, counterproductive, and have no place in our universities.”
Jo Grady, UCU General Secretary
By the University and College Union (UCU)
More than 50 MPs from five different political parties have written to the body representing university vice-chancellors to condemn threats to deduct up to 100% of staff wages for taking part in a marking and assessment boycott.
University staff began boycotting all marking and assessments in a long running dispute over pay and working conditions on Thursday 20 April.
However, in response employer body the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) recommended that all 145 universities across the UK make punitive pay deductions of between 50-100%. Staff engaged in the boycott are still continuing to attend work and perform the majority of their other duties.
In the letter, MPs and Peers from the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Plaid Cymru and SNP say there is ‘no ethical justification for making such punitive deductions, especially during a cost of living crisis.’
The letter warns UCEA and vice-chancellors that the threats to deduct wages do ‘nothing for the reputation of UK higher education’ and ‘put a resolution to the dispute further away.’
The letter was circulated by Beth Winter, Labour MP for Cynon Valley. It was signed by former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas. It was also signed by prominent members of the House of Lords including former Trades Union Congress general secretary Frances O’Grady and renowned barrister John Hendy KC.
UCU has urged vice-chancellors and UCEA to immediately withdraw the threats and return to the negotiating table. Otherwise, the boycott will continue.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Members of Parliament and the House of Lords can see what many university leaders cannot; namely that these deductions are immoral, counterproductive, and have no place in our universities. UCEA and vice-chancellors need to stop with the bully-boy tactics which are damaging to staff, students, and the international reputation of UK higher education.”
Beth Winter MP said: “University staff deserve fair pay and fair terms. That is all they’re asking for. No one can disagree with that. But universities are now deepening a dispute when they should be working to resolve it.
“Cutting 100% or even 50% of university staff pay for a marking boycott when continuing their other duties is unfair, confrontational, and will alienate staff. UCEA needs to show leadership, stop these deductions, and meet UCU at the negotiating table to reach an agreed resolution.”
You can view the full list of signatories to the letter below:
Tahir Ali MP, Labour
Mike Amesbury MP, Labour
Apsana Begum MP, Labour
Olivia Blake MP, Labour
Christine Blower, Peer, Labour
Pauline Bryan, Peer, Labour
Richard Burgon MP, Labour
Dawn Butler MP, Labour
Ian Byrne MP, Labour
Dan Carden MP, Labour
Shami Chakrabarti, Peer, Labour
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Independent
Bryn Davies, Peer, Labour
Geraint Davies MP, Labour
Mary Foy MP, Labour
Margaret Greenwood MP, Labour
John Hendy, Peer, Labour
Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat
Kate Hollern MP, Labour
Kim Johnson MP, Labour
Ben Lake MP, Plaid Cymru
Ian Lavery MP, Labour
Clive Lewis MP, Labour
David Linden MP, SNP
Ruth Lister, Peer, Labour
Rebecca Long-Bailey MP, Labour
Tony Lloyd MP, Labour
Caroline Lucas MP, Green
Andy McDonald MP, Labour
John McDonnell MP, Labour
Rachael Maskel MP, Labour
Ian Mearns MP, Labour
Grahame Morris MP, Labour
Charlotte Nichols MP, Labour
Frances O’Grady, Peer, Labour
Kate Osamor, MP, Labour
Kate Osborne MP, Labour
Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Labour
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP, Labour
Liz Saville-Roberts MP, Plaid Cymru
Tommy Sheppard MP, SNP
Prem Sikka, Peer, Labour
Cat Smith MP, Labour
Zarah Sultana MP, Labour
Sam Tarry MP, Labour
Claudia Webbe MP, Independent
Mick Whitley MP, Labour
Nadia Whittome MP, Labour
Hywel Williams MP, Plaid Cymru
Beth Winter MP, Labour
Tony Woodley Peer, Labour
