Guardian: University bosses accused of bullying over strikes and pay

At least 11 universities threatening to dock day's pay from any staff taking part in two-hour lunchtime walkout. 
Martin Williams Guardian Professional, Tuesday 21 January 2014 14.35

University bosses have been accused of "penny-pinching and bullying", in a dispute over a strike by academics.

Across the country, thousands of lecturers are set to walk out for two hours on Thursday 23 January, over a pay dispute. But at least 11 universities have told staff that they will have their pay docked for the entire day if they go on strike.

In an email, seen by the Guardian, one university said that going on strike was a breach of staff's employment contracts. Although the strike is only set to last for two hours at lunch time, university bosses told academics that they should leave for a whole day, if they wanted to strike.
The email said: "If you take two-hour strike action but perform your normal duties during the rest of the day, those services you do provide on the strike day whether in the university, at home or elsewhere, will be voluntary and at your discretion and you will not be paid."

The University and College Union (UCU) said the universities threatening to dock pay, include: Nottingham Trent University, University of Chester, University of Dundee, Oxford Brookes University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Leicester, De Montfort University, Staffordshire University, University of Wolverhampton, University of Surrey and Leeds College of Art.

The union has threatened legal action against any universities that withhold an entire day's pay from staff. It said university bosses had a "baffling willingness to increase disruption for students as a way of intimidating staff."

The "lock out" is the first of its kind by universities in recent strikes, and lecturers say it represents a escalation in their dispute with employers.

One academic who is planning to strike, and asked to remain anonymous, said: "This is clearly designed to be intimidating, but we are not going to be intimidated because what we are doing is legal. Any attempt by the university to lock staff out would be unlawful.
"The disruption to students from our strike would have been minimal, but the university is now increasing that many times over. Instead of just two hours, a full day of teaching is now going to be wiped out for students. They are turning people against them."

She added: "Not only are they increasing support for strike action, they are making a mockery of the university right across the world."

The union has threatened to escalate its industrial action if the university deprives striking lectures of a full day of pay. UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: "UCU's legal advice is that a two hour strike should lead to the deduction of two hours pay – no more or less."

She added: "Any university that tries to dock a full day's pay for a two-hour walkout will face a legal challenge from us and an escalation of strike action, as well as risking considerable damage to their reputation for fair play."

The two hour walk out follows strikes by academics and support staff in October and December over a "miserly" 1% pay increase for rank-and-file university staff. UCU says that the pay offer means academics across the UK faced a 13% pay cut in real terms since October 2008.

Meanwhile, vice-chancellors have received wage increases averaging 8.1%, with some now on more than £400,000.

However, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association have supported the docking of pay, saying that universities are doing their best to help students.

A UCEA spokesperson said: "The unions are fully aware of the employers' consistent position regarding withholding pay for partial performance, and that they are entitled to withhold a full day's pay if staff do not work normally.

"It is disingenuous for UCU to suggest that the employer should be blamed for any further disruption they may call on their members to cause."

One of the universities that has threatened to dock pay for staff, stood by its warning. Leicester University said: "We do not accept that staff should pick and choose the duties which they are prepared to perform, in a way which is deliberately targeted to cause maximum harm to this institution and the education of our students, without recourse from their employer."

However, the National Union of Students (NUS) has urged universities to negotiate. NUS president, Toni Pearce, said: "It's clear that the continuing pay dispute, over the measly pay offer to staff made by vice-chancellors who are receiving pay raises of 8%, now risks causing significant disruption."
She added: "Students want a speedy resolution. We need to see the employers and unions getting round the table and negotiating a fair and sustainable pay settlement."

View the article on the Guardian.