University of Brighton staff face a financial crisis as their pay is halted during a marking boycott, causing outrage and protests. Meanwhile, the University of Sussex offers partial payment to staff participating in the industrial action.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Staff members at the University of Brighton face severe financial hardships as their pay has been halted due to their participation in a national marking and assessment boycott.
The university claims this measure is necessary to protect students from the effects of the ongoing industrial action.
However, staff argues that the full pay cut is unjustified since marking constitutes less than 20% of their overall workload, and they continue to fulfill their other responsibilities.
The situation has left many employees unable to cover essential expenses such as food, bills, and mortgages, prompting outrage and protests.
Financial Crisis Grips University Staff
Numerous lecturers and educators at the University of Brighton need help to make ends meet as their salaries have been withheld.
Among them is Julie Canavan, a lecturer in education, who expressed shock and frustration upon discovering she had not received her June paycheck.
Despite the financial strain, Canavan emphasized that she had continued to work diligently, assisting students during their most stressful periods.
Another staff member, a principal lecturer, revealed that he could no longer afford food and had resorted to consuming vegetables from his allotment.
He criticized the university for demonstrating an aggressive attitude and a lack of respect toward its employees.
Similarly, a colleague disclosed her ongoing mortgage struggles, resorting to selling personal belongings and taking on additional work outside of the university to make ends meet.
Controversial Salary Deductions
While the University of Brighton is one of the few institutions deducting full pay in response to the industrial action, it justifies this stance by stating that it does not accept partial performance from its staff.
The university claims that its position on salary deductions has minimized the boycott’s impact on students, with 80% still expected to graduate as planned this summer.
The boycott is part of a larger national dispute over pay and working conditions organized by the University and College Union (UCU).
Mark Abel, chair of the UCU at Brighton, acknowledged the distress caused by the loss of pay but affirmed that staff members were determined not to back down.
Contrasting Approach at the University of Sussex
In contrast to the University of Brighton, the University of Sussex offers staff members involved in the industrial action 75% of their regular salary.
The specific impact of the boycott on Sussex students and their graduation status remains unclear.
Nonetheless, the university strives to mark as many assessments as possible while maintaining high academic standards.
Strikes Over Compulsory Redundancies
Furthermore, strikes are taking place at the University of Brighton due to the university’s imposition of compulsory redundancies.
Last month, students and lecturers organized a march to protest these cuts, and in May, students occupied university offices to voice their dissent.
According to a spokesperson from the University of Brighton, these changes are necessary to achieve financial savings and respond to shifting student demand for courses.
While voluntary redundancies have been successful in most areas, the university admits that compulsory redundancies were unavoidable in certain cases.
Conclusion
The withholding of salaries from staff members participating in the national marking and assessment boycott at the University of Brighton has caused significant financial distress.
Employees struggle to cover their basic needs, such as food and housing, leading to protests and outcry.
The university justifies its decision to protect students during the ongoing industrial action.
Meanwhile, the University of Sussex has taken a different approach, paying staff involved in the boycott 75% of their regular salary.
The situation highlights the broader national dispute over pay and working conditions in higher education institutions, demonstrating the determination of staff members to fight for their rights.
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