09 March 2006

Vice chancellors’ lock-out threat would damage students

Lecturers’ union NATFHE has warned vice chancellors at new universities that any plan to lock out lecturers or suspend them from the payroll - if they work less than normally - would be immensely damaging to students’ studies, unlike the lecturers’ intended non-strike industrial action.

Lecturers and researchers in new universities today begin an assessment boycott and will refuse to mark students' work. Members of the Association of University Teachers are conducting an assessment boycott in the older universities.

Some employers are threatening to lock out or suspend from the payroll any staff who refuse to guarantee normal working. Others are considering punitive pay deductions for temporary administrative delays caused by industrial action.

NATFHE says if lecturers’ pay is docked for ‘partial performance’ disruption to universities will intensify – and not end until any docked pay is refunded.

Roger Kline, head of NATFHE’s universities department, said:

‘The indefensible tactic of lock-outs, if used by employers, would bring teaching to a halt and damage students’ studies. Without lecturers the work of education stops.

‘So far, NATFHE is planning actions which disrupt universities’ ability to monitor students’ progress - but which do not prevent learning. Our non-strike actions are designed to allow students to continue their studies - lecturers will still be teaching and conveying knowledge, developing materials, designing and preparing courses and tutoring students. But we cannot continue to protect students’ studies if we are locked out or told to work without pay.

‘To permanently deduct pay - even though any partial performance of contract will be temporary in nature - would cause great bitterness. Lecturers who retain marks during the dispute will complete marking once the dispute is resolved and will therefore have fulfilled their contractual obligations. A temporary partial performance cannot justify the permanent docking of pay. It will provoke intensified industrial action, including strikes, and an end to discussions on the pay framework agreement.

‘All of this can be avoided if employers make a substantial pay offer.’

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