Work-to-rule staff may face wages slashed in uni dispute
EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATION SAYS CUTS JUSTIFIED AS UNION SAYS IT IS ‘DEEPLY UNFAIR’
STAFF who take action short of a strike during planned industrial action at universities across the country face having their pay slashed.
Next week will see the start of 68 universities being hit by up to 10 days of industrial action over cuts to staff pensions, pay and working conditions could have their pay cut.
Employers have said that universities have a morally “robust” position over cutting staff pay by up to 100 per cent if they carry out “action short of a strike” during the upcoming walkout.
Some universities have said they will make what the University and College Union (UCU) has described as “arbitrary and punitive” pay deductions, allegedly ranging from 25 per cent to 100 per cent for staff who continue to work during the strike but take action short of a strike (ASOS).
It often involves many staff working strictly to their contract, and can include not covering for absent colleagues, marking boycotts or refusing to take part in voluntary activities.
The UCU claimed the University of Leicester had emailed staff to tell them 33 per cent of their pay will be deducted - and this could rise to 100 per cent.
Raj Jethwa, chief executive of UCEA (Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association), which represents 146 employers in pay negotiations, said the decision to cut pay for staff carrying out action short of a strike was a “direct recommendation” from his organisation to employers.
“Employers are completely within their rights to withhold pay for partial performance – they do not have to accept partial performance,” he said.
“When an employee decides to pick and choose what they do, it can have a disruptive impact.”
Mr Jethwa said the UCEA had advised universities to cut 100 per cent of staff pay for ASOS and that the institutions were “not only entitled, we think they’re compelled to do so – students will be suffering as a result of this.
“We’re pretty sure the legal position is pretty robust and beyond that we think the moral position of employers is pretty robust as well,” he said.
On Wednesday, UCU said 100 per cent pay reductions in response to ASOS would be “tantamount to a lockout”, leaving staff with no option but to go on strike.
Employers at Queen Mary University of London, City University of London, Manchester Metropolitan University,
Newcastle University, the University of Bristol, and the University of Bradford have all reportedly threatened to withdraw 100 per cent pay for staff taking part in ASOS.
Alongside the alleged University of Leicester threat, UCU also claimed the University of Birmingham told staff that from Monday it will withhold half of pay for staff refusing to reschedule classes cancelled due to strike action, and that the University of Durham said it will withhold 25 per cent of staff pay if materials not shared due to strike action are not available to students by March 7, and that the pay being withheld may increase to 100 per cent.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said “rogue university bosses” are “trying to intimidate staff from taking lawful industrial action by withholding their wages.
“This is a deeply unfair and unprofessional response from management which will only escalate and prolong these disputes.
“In action short of a strike, many staff will work strictly to their contract,” she added. “The fact that some university bosses consider this worthy of a deduction in pay demonstrates the extent to which the sector has become addicted to staff working themselves into the ground and beyond what they are contractually required to do.”
Leicester UCU and its members will be on strike for 10 days - Monday, February 14 to Friday, February 18; Monday, February 21 and Tuesday, February 22 and Monday, February 28 to Wednesday, March 2.