Union bemoans "cruel" cuts to Portsmouth university staff wages with pay slashed amid marking boycott strikes

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at the University of Portsmouth went on strike during the summer and autumn amid an ongoing row over pay and conditions. Staff joined in a marking and assessment boycott which rocked students assessments throughout that period.

The UCU said members withdrew their labour equivalent to less than 10 per cent of their annual workload, but some staff have been his with “disproportionate” reductions in their wages. Union leaders claim some staff lost 72 days worth of pay, with some members having close to £10,000 slashed from their paycheque. The union added that some staff have received no wages at all as a result of the industrial action.

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Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said, "It is disappointing and unnecessary for University of Portsmouth to have taken this approach. The deductions that they have made are punitive, disproportionate and cruel. UCU will continue to press the employer to do what is right and return pay that was taken from staff." The UCU said the University of Portsmouth does not accept partial performance and wiped out 100 per cent of staff wages as a result.

Members continued to teach students, undertake administration, and carried on with research without financial compensation. The UCU added: “Incredibly, the university says it regards this work as being undertaken on ‘voluntary’ terms when staff also participated in a boycott of marking and assessment.

The marking boycott was upheld across the UK, with major delays to students’ waiting for their grades and graduation ceremonies. UCU members will not strike in the new year as the latest vote failed to meet the legal threshold. The organisation said 68 per cent of its members at 140 universities who voted called for more strikes, but only 43 per cent in total voted in the ballot – which is below the legal limit of 50 per cent.

A GoFundMe page has been made to help university staff offset the deductions. A University of Portsmouth spokesman said: “The University respects its employees’ right to take industrial action and recognises the financial pressures being faced with the rising cost of living. However, partial performance of a contract of employment is a breach of contract.

“This was not a decision that was taken lightly, rather a recognition that targeting students through such a boycott is not fair from a student, and hence university, perspective. The decision to deduct 100 per cent of pay aligned with many institutions in the sector. Where pay was deducted from staff, it was reallocated to the student hardship funds. We have also adopted longer repayment methods to support staff.” A full response from the university can be found here.