Durham Uni’s planned marking boycott ends following UCU vote

The marking and assessment boycott was due to start on Monday


Durham UCU has ended its planned marking boycott, due to start next week, it has just been announced.

Following a vote of Durham UCU members, the university’s offer to end industrial action has been accepted – meaning industrial action, including the planned marking/assessment boycott, will end, along with any threat of strike action.

The Tab believes Durham is one of the first universities which had a planned marking boycott to announce it will now no longer be going ahead.

Lecturers at 44 UK unis were due to begin a marking boycott on Monday, 23rd May. It will still be going ahead at many.

An email sent to students this afternoon by Durham’s Pro-Vice Chancellor for education, Prof Alan Houston, said: “I am very pleased to inform you that, following a vote of Durham UCU members, the university’s offer to end industrial action has been accepted.

“Durham UCU will therefore end all the industrial action under the current mandate, including the planned marking and assessment boycott and the threat of strike action.

“The university and the campus Trade Unions will now move forward on the commitments which were made in the offer. We do not underestimate the time and commitment that the initiatives take, but they will all contribute to ensuring a better workplace for the Durham community.”

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