There is no need for UCU's leaders to try and target students with MAB

There is simply no need for UCU’s leaders to try and pursue a failing Marking and Assessment Boycott (MAB) when employers are at the table to negotiate, as they have been for months. Employers now need to consider how best to progress the reform of the pay spine, workload, contract types and reducing the disability, ethnicity and gender pay gaps. UCEA is reiterating that it wants to progress this important work with UCU joining employers and other trade unions.

UCEA’s communications with UCU and public facing news releases and statements (below) have been clear and consistent for months – that the 2023-24 pay uplift talks are complete and employers are at the table to discuss the very important pay related items.

The proposals to begin talks on these vital matters were renegotiated and adjusted repeatedly until the UCU and other union negotiators were satisfied with the much-revised final version. UCU’s leaders continue to undermine this by trying to target students who the employers have a duty to protect. It is clear that UCU misled its members by suggesting that the MAB could lead to a revised pay uplift for 2023-24. The MAB has continued for more than seven weeks but is clear that the vast majority of staff are not participating and are delivering and caring for students at this vital time of the year.