Staff protest at University of East London

The demonstration, which will take place from 11am to 12noon on Water Lane*, comes just days after UCU members announced they will be taking strike action in September against controversial new plans for staff workloads and grievance procedures.

Staff will be joined on the protest by UCU vice-president Simon Renton.

The dispute centres over changes to workload agreements that will allow managers to set staff workloads without taking into account lecturers' class sizes and marking loads. The union warned the move could compromise standards with staff not given enough time to prepare for lessons, mark papers and provide individual support for students.

In addition, staff members will be stripped of their right of appeal to independent governors if they feel they have been bullied or given unfair workloads.

Talks between the union and UEL stalled earlier this month and UCU said that while it was beginning preparations for a programme of strike action there was still time for a negotiated settlement.

UCU regional official, Greg Barnett, said: 'Today's demonstration is a chance for staff to voice publicly their opposition to the university's plans for workload and grievance procedures and should act as a wake-up call to management. There is still time to avert strike action in September. However, that means reversing these planned changes to terms and conditions.

'Nobody wants to cause disruption but we cannot sit by while vital protections are taken away from our members. The university's plans will endanger standards as staff are denied the necessary time to mark students' work.'