29th May 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
University staff who have been on strike over pay have had full days’ wages docked from their salaries. According to the University and College Union, staff involved in strikes at different universities across the country have had vary amounts of wages docked from their pay, following strikes of just 2 hours. The UCU has contacted the vice-chancellors of 26 universities demanding that the pay be returned to the staff. Some universities have docked pay beyond that which would have been earned during the walk out, deducting a full day’s pay for a 2 hour walk out in a move which many view as punitive.
The university employer’s body UCEA has said that docking the pay of striking workers was legitimate, arguing that the walk-out constituted ‘partial performance on the part of staff. They view the strikes as a breach of contract, and said that the UCU knew that its members would lose pay if they took part in the action. They also said that they felt that the action was damaging to students, and done to try to achieve maximum disruption. In a statement, UCEA said that they supported the rights of universities to dock the pay of staff who participated in the strikes.
However, the UCU has stated that it considers the decision of universities to deduct pay from staff to be unlawful, and warned that it would take legal action on behalf of its members. They have sent letters to universities who have deducted pay, warning them of their intention to seek legal action, and demanding that the money be returned to staff. They have said that the strikes constituted legitimate industrial action, and warned that the decision of universities to dock the pay of staff would undermine ongoing negotiations.