UCU industrial action update
06 Sep 2023
National UCU call an end to Marking and Assessment Boycott and local MAB update
Earlier this year, the University and College Union (UCU) secured an extended mandate for Action Short of Strike (ASOS) to include a marking and assessment boycott (MAB) commencing on 20 April and lasting until the end of September 2023. This action is in relation to ongoing, national disputes about pay, and working conditions, which we are continuing to discuss locally.
We appreciate that most of our colleagues have continued to work as normal during this period, and in some cases certain teams have gone above and beyond, thank you again for your continued contribution.
National update
As of today (6 September), national UCU has announced an early end to the ongoing MAB, to take effect today (Wednesday, 6 September).
Updates as a result of this announcement will be shared as soon as possible, and relevant FAQs will be updated accordingly.
Local update
In recent weeks, we have been working closely with representatives within the local branch executive of UCU (UMUCU) to listen to their members’ concerns and try to address any local issues and queries relating to the application of our pay withholding policy in response to MAB.
We are pleased to confirm that following recent constructive discussions with UMUCU regarding reporting of industrial action, UMUCU now recognise and agree that the University is entitled to ask about past participation in industrial action and agree that when a colleague is asked to confirm participation, they should respond truthfully.
As an outcome of these discussions, UMUCU have confirmed that their current policy will align with national UCU guidance and not discourage colleagues from reporting their participation in industrial action.
In response to this clarified position, we have agreed that all colleagues who reported their participation in MAB after 9 June and whose pay has currently been withheld at 100% from 12 June, will now move to have their pay withheld at 50% in line with colleagues who reported by 9 June.
We have also agreed that any pay withheld at 100% between 12 June to date will be restored to 50% and the necessary pay adjustments will be made in September payroll
For any colleagues that have not yet reported their participation in MAB, please report your participation by Friday 15 September 2023. If you report within this period, your pay will be withheld at 50% backdated to the earliest date on which your marking and assessment duties commenced.
How to report
Colleagues can report their participation via the following mechanisms which have been agreed with UMUCU:
- Via email: Please email your Line Manager, cc’ing in the relevant faculty MAB e-mail address (mab-hums@manchester.ac.uk/mab-fbmh@mancehster.ac.uk/mab-fse@mancester.ac.uk). Please note, if reporting via email, colleagues should provide the start date of their participation and end date and any relevant authorised paid leave during the period of participation.
We also understand that colleagues may have reported directly with UMUCU via ucu@manchester.ac.uk with the subject line "MAB reporting”.
We have also agreed with UMUCU that we will discuss and seek to agree the means of reporting prior to any further dispute, and any agreement would be formalised.
We understand how important pay and working conditions are to our colleagues and take these concerns very seriously. Whilst pay is still negotiated nationally, by UCEA and UUK respectively, as with all Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), we continue to input into these discussions and decisions and, we have recently established a number of task and finish groups to work collectively on non-pay issues such as workload and contract arrangements.
Any further updates on industrial action will be shared as soon as possible, and relevant FAQs will be updated accordingly.