Protests to hit UK universities tomorrow

The NUS is backing the day of protest and has called on UCEA to settle the dispute. 

UCU previously met with UCEA last week in an attempt to end the UK-wide university marking boycott and resolve the ongoing pay and working conditions dispute. Unfortunately, UCEA refused to table an improved pay offer or provide any redress for members who have been hit with punitive pay deductions.  

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'University staff and students will be out in force tomorrow demanding UCEA settles the dispute and brings its national degree scandal to a close. 

'We cannot and will not allow employers to filibuster talks to a point where students miss out on their degrees and punitive pay deductions plunge staff further into debt. 

'UCEA now has a choice, listen to the modest demands of staff and students, and work with us to end the marking boycott, or lay the ground for even more disruption in the coming months and into the next academic year.' 

NUS vice-president for higher education Chloe Field said: 'Tomorrow, as ever, we stand with UCU and join our member students' unions in calling for UCEA to settle the dispute. 

'Students know that university bosses are solely to blame for the disruption to their graduations, they have shown overwhelming support to university staff throughout this dispute, and will do so again tomorrow.'