Lecturers' strike latest summary

News

By Fraggy

Last updated: Wed 7th Jun 2006 at 14:44

As negotiations between lecturers' Unions and Universities continue, we have an updated summary of events on the strike action.

Outline of events:

Tony Blair acknowledges lecturers’ pay has fallen 20 years behind comparable professions
House of Commons agrees to top-up fees, on understanding that the shortfall in lecturers’ pay will be addressed

Based on government figures, lecturers need 23% to make up shortfall

Lecturers' pay dispute

Students rally in support
24 May 2006 | Education
Action continues as pay offer rejected
09 May 2006 | Education
Strike: John Craven issues statement
03 Apr 2006 |
Strike 'will affect marks indefinitely'
07 Mar 2006 |

Other strike coverage

Latest from NUS online
Lecturers stage march over pay
01 Jun 2006 | BBC News
13.1% pay offer rejected
31 May 2006 | BBC News
Dispute 'in stalemate'
09 May 2006 | BBC News
Students' anxiety grows
08 May 2006 | BBC News
New pay offer pledged
03 May 2006 | BBC News
Talks fail, pay offer needed
26 Apr 2006 | BBC News
Action continues despite talks
21 Apr 2006 | BBC News

Reassured, lecturers’ agree to cost of living only increase in 2004 and 2005 (in order to cooperate with introduction of new HE pay spine)
October 2005 academic unions alert universities to 23% claim for 2006
Unions suggest staggering claim over three years to make it more manageable
Universities’ negotiating body (UCEA) does not respond
March 2006, to get response, unions call one day strike + boycott of assessment until dispute settled
UCEA offer 12.6 % over three years
Little more than inflation + no element of catch-up suggested by Tony Blair
May 2006 unions ready to consider new offer, which is subsequently withdrawn by UCEA

What can students do?

If you are worried about not having your work assessed, ask the VC to encourage UCEA to make a reasonable pay offer
If you are worried about unqualified markers being drafted in to mark your work, ask the VC, Academic for assurance that this will not happen
If you support the lecturers please:

tell UPSU

come to the UPSU AGM June 9th 2006

lobby your MP

write to the newspapers

join with other students who support lecturers at UPSU

email NUS, AUT and NATFHE (now one joint union UCU) at hq@ucu.org.uk or jointgeneralsecretaries@ucu.org.uk

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Comments have been closed for this article

Isn't that enough that our lecturers expect us to support action which messes up final year students' future plans? No, they are asking us to waste our exam revision & essay writing time for THEIR cause (lobby MP's, make a complaint etc...). I did support their action in the beginning, but now it's time for lecturers & employers to compromise - for the sake of STUDENTS.

Fri, 02 Jun 2006

Give our lecturers the credit that is due. They are splendid souls and deserve more respect. So many young people rely on them. Lecturers protect and embrace young people's future and they are valuable futures, which as a nation makes us feel proud. Its time their employers did the same.

Sarah HALSTED (graduate psychology) - Sat, 03 Jun 2006