Edinburgh University offers to continue paying striking lecturers if they mark final years’ work

Edinburgh University has offered not to withhold the pay of lecturers participating in the University and Colleges Union (UCU) marking boycott if they agree to mark final years’ work.

This proposition follows the announcement last week that the UCU has pushed for a nationwide marking and assessment boycott as part of national industrial action, meaning that dissertations and coursework for all year groups may go unmarked. 

The industrial action and boycott are rooted in ongoing disputes over pension reforms, wage disparities, casualisation, and a perceived increase in staff workload. 

Unsurprisingly, the potential of dissertations and coursework going unmarked has created anxiety among students. One student confessed to the Edinburgh Tab, feeling “completely powerless” in the face of the situation.

So, what does Edinburgh’s proposition mean? The university proposed to the UCU Edinburgh branch that “colleagues participating in this action would not have 50 per cent of their pay withheld if they agreed to mark and assess the work of graduating and final year students. Our proposal includes the final work for postgraduate students and those students who must meet specific conditions to allow them to progress in their degree.”

This proposal looks to lessen the potential impact of the strike action on students’ academic performance and progress while also easing the pay concerns of the striking staff.

After hearing the university’s proposition, the UCU has decided to put it to a vote among its members. This move ensures that those most affected by the proposal – the staff members – get a say in the decision that could shape their pay and the future of their protest.

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In a move that could alleviate some financial woes for the striking staff, the university has offered to put a pause on withholding 50 per cent of the pay from those who participated in the April boycott. That means the full salary for April will land in the bank accounts of those participants in May, which might ease some of the financial stress caused by the strike.

But it’s not just about the money. This move is also a nod of recognition to the hardships caused by the strike, financial and otherwise.

I am one of 479 staff members @edinburghuni to sign an open letter in protest at the university’s response to the marking and assessment boycott. These proposals threaten to undermine the integrity of our degrees. Our students deserve better. pic.twitter.com/7FzdIZ6aR8

— David Farrier (@David_Farrier) May 9, 2023

The university’s proposition follows an outcry from students across the university, as well as an open letter signed by almost 500 staff members regarding the ongoing threat to academic standards.

An official statement from the University of Edinburgh stated: “While the marking and assessment boycott is part of industrial action taken on a national level by UCU, we are keen to find a local resolution which limits the impact on our students.”

However, this fresh approach from the Uni isn’t hitting the right note with everyone. Some staff members have expressed disappointment with the new proposal, questioning the fairness and efficacy of the university’s offer.

@EdinburghUni knows that @ucuedinburgh cannot find a local resolution. This is not a real offer. Only an offer to bring @UCEA1 to the negotiating table can end this dispute. Goodness me, so many moves being played to avoid doing the right thing: fair pay and working conditions. pic.twitter.com/bOx1v0e88I

— Dr Claire Duncanson (@cpduncanson) May 18, 2023

They’re not buying the Uni’s middle-ground suggestion, arguing that it’s more of a “meet us in the middle, but we’re still on our side of the fence” kind of deal. They view it as a “too little, too late” response, highlighting that it’s about more than just the money – job security, fair wages, and reasonable workloads matter too.

The university’s official statement touched on the toll of the situation, saying: “Although the proportion of colleagues participating in this boycott is low, we acknowledge it places a high level of stress on our community, particularly final-year students. We will continue to engage in conversations with UCU Edinburgh in the hope that we can find a resolution that is agreeable to all sides.”

As members of the UCU prepare to vote, the university community waits with bated breath to see if this proposal can pave the way to a resolution everyone can get somewhat on board with.

A spokesperson for the university said: “While the marking and assessment boycott is part of industrial action taken on a national level by UCU, we are keen to find a local resolution which limits the impact on our students. For this reason, we proposed to UCU Edinburgh that colleagues participating in this action would not have 50 per cent of their pay withheld if they agreed to mark and assess the work of graduating and final year students.

“Our proposal includes the final work for postgraduate students and those students who must meet specific conditions to allow them to progress in their degree. We appreciate UCU Edinburgh engaging further in this conversation and their agreement to ballot their members on our proposal. In recognition, we have paused the withholding of 50 per cent of pay for April participation in the boycott. Full salary will be paid to April participants in their May salary. Although the proportion of colleagues participating in this boycott is low, we acknowledge it places a high level of stress on our community, particularly final year students. We will continue to engage in conversations with UCU Edinburgh in the hope that we can find a resolution that is agreeable to all sides.”

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Edinburgh final years could be graduating without having dissertations marked amid lecturer strikes

• ‘I don’t trust anything anymore’: Edinburgh University students on the marking boycott

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