Do Not Let Marking Strike Go Into New Term – UK Minister

The UK government has urged university bosses and a lecturers’ union to restart talks and prevent disruption continuing into the new academic year.

University and College Union (UCU) members have been boycotting marking papers since April over a pay dispute.

Negotiations with the University and College Employers Association (UCEA) have broken down without an agreement.

Education minister, Robert Halfon said the uncertainty faced by students was unacceptable.

Read Also: England Teachers End Strikes As All Four Unions Accept Pay Deal

The UCU has vowed to continue the marking boycott, which covers all exams and any assessment that counts towards a student’s final grade, until the dispute has been resolved.

The industrial action at 145 higher education institutions across the UK began on 20 April.

The union has a six month mandate from members to continue the action, meaning it will run into the new term, which starts in early September for some universities, without a resolution.

This means some students left university this summer without knowing what grade they have been awarded, or were unable to graduate at all.

UCU members voted to reject a pay offer for 2023-24 worth between 5% and 8%, with the union pushing for a rise of the highest from two options, the RPI measure of inflation plus 2%, or a 12% increase.

Senior union officials are due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to decide on their next steps.