Lecturers face pay dock
THIRTY UNIVERSITIES across the UK are set to dock lecturers’ pay for refusal to set and mark examinations.
Northumbria University were one of the first to begin the capping of salaries just over a fortnight ago; and the situation has led to a full-scale walk-out from lectures’ within the institution that condemn their actions. Martin Levy chariman of NATFE in Northumbria said that members were still in full support of the strike despite having all of their pay docked.
Other universities, including Essex and Huddersfield have also taken action although York University is yet to. In a recent interview, John Tarrant the vice-chancellor of Huddersfield University said “as there appears to be no solution to the national dispute we believe there is an obligation on us to do everything we reasonably can to bring the dispute at Huddersfield to an end”.
The docking of pay comes after NATHFE and AUT members refused to mark exams until their 23% pay increase is met by university employers. The AUT have also taken the action a step further by refusing to set exams, leading to the chance of up to 300,000 students being affected this summer.
Last Friday, chances of a national pay agreement became less likely after Vice-Chancellors ruled out any improve offer on their current 12.6% over 3 years. UCEA Chairman, Geoffrey Copland said “our members are clear they cannot go beyond this offer”. AUT officials still disagree saying they are only asking for what was promised.
