Following a period of frank, sometimes difficult – but also open and constructive – negotiations with GCU management, UCU officers, in consultation with the UCU branch committee, reached agreement over the coming phase of the ongoing Marking and Assessment Boycott. This will essentially cover the resit period in Trimester C and assessment and marking for postgrad students.

Members of all campus unions had previously expressed their anger over the 30 percent deductions imposed on MABers despite evidence that members of staff were still working at 100 percent although no marking was taking place. Unions still believe that this was unjust, and we believe that on conclusion of the current industrial action, this should be repaid to staff.

Under the new agreement, essentially, those members of the UCU who take part in the MAB over Summer will agree to give three days notice to management regarding this. Within their current workload, they will then undertake ‘reasonable student support work’ not related to marking and assessment. No deductions to salary will then be imposed on those agreeing to this.

The full statement agreed between management and the UCU is found here.

Importantly for the union, within the statement, as well as management acknowledgment of the right of UCU members to participate in industrial action, including a MAB, there is a recognition by management that tackling excessive workloads (and the resulting stress) and the extent or casualisation are matters of serious concern for members of GCU UCU and all campus trade unions. There is an agreement that ‘we will work together over the coming weeks and months to address the issue’.

Also, management state that ‘The University as a member of UCEA commits to continuing to request that UCEA return to negotiations with UCU as a matter of urgency with a view to resolving the national dispute’.

In relation to students appealing against grades and or processes which they believe have been affected by the current action, ‘management will ensure that cases are dealt with in a timely manner’.

GCU management and GCU UCU are committed to continued dialogue.