UCU split on plans to call ‘indefinite strike’ from February

As a believer in the labour movement and long term UCU member I am absolute despair about their strategy and policy in recent years. I will not be taking part in indefinite action and am on the verge of resigning union membership. Such a shame at such an important time when we really need a union to look after our interests in a rational and realistic way.

I agree that Union strategy has been pretty ineffective although I have been somewhat impressed with their use of new media to bolster votes for strike action. I have never understood why UCU isn't aggressively pushing for students to receive compensation for lost teaching* pro rata. Not only would this completely change the game in terms of the potency of strike action (i.e. VCs would be on their knees immediately), it would also strengthen UCU's position with the public/students. Currently Unis make a profit when lecturers strike, which (given that snr management don't seem to care very much about students not getting taught and their staff getting poorer) isn't applying much pressure is it? (Genuinely interested in why this isn't the case if someone has any insight - are UCU worried about putting unis under because it would be TOO effective?)

I too am questioning UCU's approach at the moment. An assessment boycott is, for many of us, the same as an all out strike as some universities treat partial fulfilment of contract as no fulfilment of contract and stop all pay. This is not feasible for many people.

Under Jo Grady's leadership, UCU is late to the party of striking unions and too cautious. We should have striked in the first week of the semester (many branches still had a mandate from the previous ballot), and a marking boycott at least has an impact where the universities are hurt most, rather than drawn-out strikes once the semester is over and the marks are in. We will lose salary either way, so we may as well do it at a time when it hurts the other side.

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