Successes of the marking and assessment boycott in HE branches summer 2022

Posted on by Sean

The following 31 UCU branches took part in a marking and assessment boycott in summer 2022:

Anglia Ruskin, Bath Spa, Bedfordshire, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucestershire, Heriot Watt, IDS at Sussex, Loughborough, Kings College London, Kingston, Leeds, Leeds Beckett, Manchester, Napier, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Sheffield, SOAS, Sunderland, Sussex, University of the Arts London, Ulster, York.

UCU branches taking part in the Marking and Assessment Boycott this last term have achieved a remarkable success – often against management intransigence – in forcing concessions from local employers.

44 branches were mandated to take part.  31 then voted to boycott.  Lengthy delays meant staff at many universities had finished all or most of their marking by the time boycotts were authorised.  With small numbers in each branch willing and able to carry it out, there were real fears of a negligible impact, with participants hit by 100% pay deductions.  QMUL has had 100% deductions. However, the boycott has achieved significant successes.

The wins

  • 9 branches won commitments to convert HPL / casual contracts to permanent / minimum length / fractional contracts. Ulster won an end to zero hours contracts. Nottingham won reduced use of outsourced temporary contracts.  Sussex won paid holidays, training and sick for temps. Heriot Watt won contract reviews for all HPLs on request.
  • 12 branches won work groups on discrimination/pay gaps.
  • 10 branches won action to cut stress and overwork.  Sussex, Durham, Nottingham gained overtime pay and/or credit for admin roles.  Newcastle won a reduction of hours to 37pw.
  • 23 branches negotiated non-consolidated pay top-ups.  Sussex, Durham, Brighton won an increase in F/T staff on time-limited contracts.  Leeds & Heriot Watt won pay grade reviews.
  • 12 branches secured positive joint statements from management on USS pension benefits.
  • 11 branches forced USS governance reform.
  • 8 branches won the principle of equal covenant support for UCU & UUK proposals to USS.
  • Activists developed a ‘Twin to Win’ strategy. Boycotting branches were put under extreme pressure by SMTs using union-breaking tactics and intimidation.  Each boycotting branch was matched with others which didn’t reach the threshold. 
  • Big donations – upwards of £5k in several cases – helped twinned boycotting members feel they were covered if pay was docked and created a sense of mutual support.
  • The boycott helped branches to rebuild engagement and solidarity.  Twinned branches attended each others’ meetings, forming links and developing strategies. 

The impact of this boycott shows how effective united action can achieve significant results.  Please share this information with your branch.  We hope that UCU leadership will now promote and publicise these successes.  They carry important lessons for the next crucial stage of our disputes over USS and the Four Fights.