That academic pay dispute

[nmg]

This morning, it was Isobel's turn to wake up shouting at the radio. UCU have agreed to put UCEA's offer of 13.1% to their membership (and not, as the BBC put it, agreed to the increase - learn how a democratic union operates!), so the industrial action will be suspended for the duration of the balloting procedure. I can't say that I'm happy with this offer, and will probably vote against accepting it.

surliminal can now look slightly smug for having been able to prepare for her marking. My role in assessment this year has been mainly limited to third year project vivas (which were all rescheduled for tomorrow and Friday, so I'll now be taking part), fourth year research project reports (with a marking deadline of next week) and my half of the second year databases course (for which I've yet to receive the scripts). I predict a very busy few days.

Comments

[nmg.livejournal.com]

If the membership voted against the offer, the assessment boycott would probably not be reinstated and we'd take some other form of industrial action. Sadly, I think that this probably was the best offer we could have got given the current negotiating framework (JNCHES et al), and I'm not going to blame our union's negotiators. Infighting within UCU could be incredibly damaging to our aims.

I'm starting to think that the best result at this point would be for the membership to accept the offer, but with a sufficient no vote to indicate our dissatisfaction.