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University and College Union marking boycott

University and College Union possible marking boycott

The University of St Andrews has been notified by the University and College Union (UCU) that its members in St Andrews may take part in Action Short of a Strike in the form of a marking boycott with effect from Tuesday 6 May 2014. If it goes ahead, this official action would be part of a continuing UK national dispute in relation to the 2013/2014 pay award given to UK university lecturers, teachers and researchers.

The UCU is currently consulting its members to decide whether the Action should go ahead. The ballot will close on 1 May and an announcement can be expected shortly thereafter.

What is a marking boycott?

The boycott means that from Tuesday 6 May 2014 (during the St Andrews revision period) members of the UCU nationally and in St Andrews may refuse indefinitely to mark coursework, examinations or other formal assessments. St Andrews’ exam diets begin on Monday 12 May 2014 and results are due to be reported from early June 2014.

Why is the UCU taking this action?

This national dispute relates to last year’s pay settlement. Although University Employers nationally have already implemented a 1% pay rise, in addition to contractual increments, the UCU has been arguing that the rise should have been higher. The employers (UCEA) have now made a further offer of 2% from August 2014. Neither the University of St Andrews nor the local branch of UCU can resolve a national dispute.

What effect would a marking boycott have?

While this is a national dispute which neither the University nor our local UCU members would have wished for, it is clear that the consequences of any action will be most acutely felt locally. A marking boycott in St Andrews would affect both our students and our staff. In fact, because the St Andrews academic timetable sees our examinations and graduation taking place much earlier than those of many higher education institutions, especially in England, the first phase of any action may have a greater impact on us than other universities. The University is particularly concerned that, for final year students, the boycott could mean that they cannot receive a properly classified degree and would be unable to graduate as planned in June.

Will I be affected if the boycott goes ahead?

Not all students would be affected, but because the process depends entirely on which individual members of staff decide to boycott marking duties, some students, through no fault or choice of their own, would be penalised while others would not. While we are concerned that any student’s results may be delayed, and recognise that there may be many reasons for individual students to need module results in June, it is clear that, as a group, our final year students stand to suffer the most from any action. This is because a failure to award marks for final assessments may impact on graduation and employment plans. We are aware that, in addition, our postgraduate taught and honours entry cohorts may feel particularly worried, in case they are left waiting for crucial decisions regarding their academic future.

How can I find out if I would be affected?

The University is not entitled to know which members of its staff are members of UCU. Nor do we know which members of staff may take action, or how many. It is therefore very difficult for us to predict which students would be affected. Regrettably the picture will only become clearer if the boycott goes ahead and as it progresses. We initially asked all staff to inform us by Tuesday 22 April 2014 if they intend to boycott marking duties, although they are under no legal obligation to do this. Students are of course entitled to ask their teachers directly if they intend to mark their work. Students may also wish to speak to their School Presidents and Directors of Teaching about the likely effects of action in their School. However, as UCU members are not obliged to tell anyone if they intend to take action, Directors of Teaching and School Presidents may not have complete, or indeed any, information. Please be patient with them.

I am a study abroad student in St Andrews: how would I be affected?

We hope that a marking boycott would have comparatively little effect on our study abroad students, although until action goes ahead it is difficult to make an accurate assessment. We acknowledge some study abroad students at St Andrews could be affected if the boycott is long running. We will be in touch with your home College or University to discuss proposed actions if we believe these are necessary.

What is the University doing about the possible marking boycott?

It is very important to stress that a very large majority of St Andrews academic staff have not taken part in recent actions and are unlikely to take part in the marking boycott. We know that members of our staff are extraordinarily committed to our students and that our UCU members will be extremely sensitive to the potentially very significant and disruptive consequences of their actions. The University respects and upholds the important right of our staff to take industrial action. We also however respect and have a duty to protect the rights of our students to graduate with properly classified degrees. Neither the University nor our local UCU members have the power to resolve an argument that is being conducted at a national level, to a timetable dictated by English universities that exposes St Andrews to the first wave of action. Between us, however, we believe we can take reasonable steps to ensure that the right of our final year students to graduate with properly classified degrees is protected alongside the right of our staff to take action:

  • For our part, the University will be writing to the employers’ organisation UCEA to urge them to take all reasonable steps with UCU to resolve this national dispute before it causes actual damage to the prospects, finances and arrangements of students.
  • In turn, we have made a direct appeal to those staff who decide to take action short of a strike locally to minimise any disadvantage to students, particularly those eligible to graduate.
  • We have written to all staff asking that any who intend to take part in the boycott ensure that their School is informed by Tuesday 22 April 2014 of their intention to withdraw their labour, although they are not legally obliged to do this.  
  • In common with 120 other UK universities affected by this dispute, we have stated that a decision to take part in action short of a strike and not fulfil all normal duties will lead to the withholding of 100% of salary for each day, including any part thereof, of action. Each day will be calculated at 1⁄260th of annual salary. We will give all withheld pay to a scholarship fund for students.

What can I do about the marking boycott?

Some of our students may wish to support the action by UCU, some will have a neutral view while others may wish to actively oppose it if it is directly affecting student welfare. The University will respect the right of students to make such reasonable representations as they see fit. We hope that School Presidents and Directors of Teaching will be able to provide students with information and advice at a School level. The University will be actively monitoring the effects of the dispute, if it goes ahead, and we will endeavour to keep students as fully updated as possible by email and via the Advice and Support Centre on North Street. Students wishing to make representations or ask questions about the dispute may find the following contacts and resources useful:

Will the University allow students to graduate even if final exams have not been marked?

Our guiding principle will be to maintain academic standards and to provide students with accurate grades as soon as these become available.