UCEA’s wait for a response from TUs continues while students bear the repercussions of the delay

It is nearly three weeks since UCEA wrote to UCU and the other unions with the employers’ proposal for Acas facilitated talks on the review of sector finances and important pay related matters raised in their claim; we have still not had an answer. While UCEA’s wait for a response from trade unions continues, it is unfair on those students yet to graduate, who are bearing the repercussion of their delay.  

The UCU MAB continues, impacting on some students in isolated institutions and academic departments*. The trade union, who chose this disruptive form of industrial action, has a moral obligation and responsibility to students as well as its own members to respond to UCEA’s offer for these important talks. Three weeks is a long time for a student who has been affected by MAB repercussions. 

It is perplexing that UCU has in the past days chosen to write to Heads of Institution, asking them to tell UCEA to negotiate when we have been waiting for UCU and the other trade unions for so long. While the reason for the delay has not been confirmed, employers are aware that infighting and indecision within UCU may provide signals. There is also concern arising over the potential impact regarding the serious disagreement between two of the five unions over a longstanding dispute over lack of pay uplift and redundancies. Unite, representing UCU staff, has now sent UCU notification to ‘ballot for industrial action’ . We trust that this does not impact on UCEA’s proposals for Acas New JNCHES talks.