{"id":93592,"date":"2023-05-03T13:33:39","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T13:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2023\/05\/03\/university-strikes-how-the-marking-boycott-affects-cambridge\/"},"modified":"2023-05-03T13:33:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-03T13:33:39","slug":"university-strikes-how-the-marking-boycott-affects-cambridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2023\/05\/03\/university-strikes-how-the-marking-boycott-affects-cambridge\/","title":{"rendered":"University strikes: How the marking boycott affects Cambridge"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Members of the University and College Union (UCU) continue their ratings and appraisals boycott over pay and working conditions. The BBC spoke to students and staff at the University of Cambridge about how the situation is being handled there.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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University students at 145 UK institutions have been hit as rows continue over staff salaries and working conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The actions of the UCU include all grading and evaluation as well as related work such as examination proctoring. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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After three days of strikes in November, the union announced 18 days of industrial action in February and March, but canceled some of those dates after making “significant progress on a number of issues”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The tagging boycott began April 20 and will continue until employers make an improved offer, the UCU says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Employers presented an offer that UCU members rejected because it was well below inflation and there were no firm commitments on workload or pay equity gaps – so we had no choice but to escalate to a ratings and ratings boycott,” says Lorena Gazzotti, Vice President of Cambridge UCU.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cI would like to emphasize that I do not know of a single member who would like to do this in good faith, but it is necessary.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“Employers don’t come to the table with a reasonable offer.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    She said employees had to work every weekend for no extra pay. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “We can no longer pretend that the situation in our sector is normal,” adds Ms. Gazzotti.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cCasualization is widespread. Employee turnover is high. The workload is explosive.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cStudents are concerned about the impact of the grades and assessments boycott, but they also have a keen understanding of why staff were required to take this action. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cTrials will be graded after the dispute has been settled. So it’s more of a delay. The clock is already ticking.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    The UCU negotiates with the Universities and College Employers Association (UCEA), which recommends salary scales and conditions for university staff, although in the case of Cambridge, individual universities or colleges are not obliged to accept them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Prof Bhaskar Vira is Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Cambridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “The students who are going through this industrial action are students whose education has been disrupted in recent years, particularly by the pandemic, so it is our responsibility to look after them as best we can,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “My focus is trying to get the maximum number of grades for the maximum number of students.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cThe exams are being held as scheduled, but there is a likelihood that the assessment will be delayed, which will affect the results. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cThe industrial action has not been universal across departments \u2013 some are hit harder than others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cI know that our colleagues value our students’ progress as much as we do. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cThe lawsuit over the pension issue has now been suspended, suggesting there are commonalities. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “It’s really important that we get together and keep talking. Locally in Cambridge, we’re trying to make progress where we can – but that’s a national dispute.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Ewan, 21, studies politics at Cambridge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cIt’s the exam semester and there is real uncertainty as to when or if my exams will be graded. I still have coursework and I have no idea what’s going on with it,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “But even beyond the strikes that are taking place during this term, this has been an issue for a full year, if not the last three years that I’ve been here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cThere was a lack of clarity from the faculty and a strong sense of confusion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “It doesn’t feel like much is going to change. The Senate House and the Pro-Vice Chancellor might be bargaining hard, but it doesn’t feel like it’s trickling down the food chain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “I have compassion to a degree, but at some point it gets presumptuous. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “I want to get out of here, get a good job and be sure of my own education.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Max, 19, and Tom, 20, are both studying linguistics at Cambridge. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “The general advice is to carry on as if the strikes weren’t happening,” says Max. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cIf external examiners also grade it, some [students] talk about whether that would detract from the value of a Cambridge degree if no one at Cambridge even saw your papers and your scripts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “It’s impossible to know. We may see the results later than expected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “I sympathize with them but we had to do our A-levels during Covid so it just drags on when other things affect us later.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “We’re a bit in the dark,” adds Tom. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    “I’ve heard other subjects are being affected a little more – it all depends if there’s an impact on our grades. Hopefully none.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    \u201cWe need recognition for our key workers and now it’s the same situation. It’s all a consequence of the pandemic.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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    Find BBC News: East of England <\/i>Facebook, <\/i>Instagram And <\/i>Twitter<\/a>. If you have an email with a story suggestion <\/i>eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n