The Sussex branch of the University and College Union have elected to prolong the marking boycott until more “concrete” proposals are offered to them by employers.
This emerged from a UCU Emergency Members’ Meeting at 1pm today, as University lecturers and tutors assembled to establish their boycott position for the next UCU Higher Education Committee meeting.
October saw 87 percent of academics from 69 University Unions up and down country vote for action short of a strike, such as abstaining from marking assignments and coursework. The members were voting whether to take action against proposed changes to their pension. At 45 percent, it was highest turnout any UCU ballot has attracted since the trade union was formed in 2006.
Sussex UCU said in a series of tweets today: “Sussex branch passes motion calling for boycott action to continue until the employers come up with more concrete proposals. #defendUSS
“The discussion was animated, and members are clearly engaged. A general sense that employers’ concessions to date are meagre or illusory.”