Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and Wolverhampton University have reportedly threatened to cut 100% of the wages of staff on strike unless they reschedule all the lectures they missed.
Usually, academics would expect to have pay docked only for the days they are on strike – in this month’s strikes, this would be only three days’ worth.
University and College Union (UCU) members were on strike last Thursday and Friday, and will be again this Wednesday, as part of their dispute regarding pay, working conditions, and wages.
‘Devastating’
Co-chair of the QMUL’s UCU branch, Dr Zara Dinnen, spoke to the Observer: ‘The impact of having no pay now, during a cost of living crisis, would be devastating for people.
‘Many members here are already using credit cards and loans to get by.’
QMUL has historically been criticised for its approach to staff going on strike. In July, it was criticised by the UCU for a ‘vindictive attack’ on union members when it withheld 100% of the wages of staff on a marking boycott.
Dr Dinnen told the Observer that staff wouldn’t be dissuaded from striking, though.
‘This isn’t putting people off. It’s making them really angry,’ she said.
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‘Trying to frighten people’
At Wolverhampton, there are similar concerns for staff welfare.
Dr Catherine Lamond is the negotiating chair of the local UCU committee and told the Guardian that she’s ‘had so many emails from staff who are really worried about how they will pay their rent or mortgage or put food on the table.
‘It could knock people off the edge.’
Wolverhampton University told the Guardian: ‘We will only deduct pay in the event that people do not adhere to their contractual requirements and proper discharge of their duties.’
Dr Lamond said: ‘They are reserving the right to deduct full pay indefinitely for every day we don’t rearrange the classes we miss in this strike.
‘People are legally allowed to take industrial action, but this feels like they are trying to frighten people into giving up that right.’
‘Beyond disgraceful’
The UCU’s general secretary, Jo Grady, who recently joined staff on picket lines, said: ‘Vice-chancellors are using immoral pay deductions to bully staff and intimidate them from taking lawful industrial action.
‘It is beyond disgraceful.’
She told the Guardian: ‘They are attempting to brutalise their own staff into submission.
‘But they need to know that our members will not take it lying down, and nor will our students.’
Speaking to the Guardian, a spokesperson for QMUL said that its ‘overriding priority has been to protect our students’ education’ and that strikers were requested to ‘prioritise all educational activities.’
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