Averill EarlsMay 24, 2023
Dan Goodman

To UK academics (students and staff).

⚠ If you're offered work marking in the next months, please say no!

It's likely an attempt to break our marking and assessment boycott, our most effective industrial action to avoid threatened pay cuts.

Please boost if you have UK followers.

#ucu #ucurising #academicchatter

May 22, 2023 at 2:18pmWeb
Show threadLeonardo Ferreira FontenelleMay 22, 2023
@neuralreckoning English as a second language: what is "marking" in this context?
Show threadKate Nyhan is changing serversMay 22, 2023
@lffontenelle @neuralreckoning
UK "marking" = US "grading"
https://doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2015.1024607
Show threadPorquerias | 1312 🏴🌵May 23, 2023
@kdnyhan @lffontenelle @neuralreckoning thank you for translating
Show threadDan GoodmanMay 22, 2023
@lffontenelle What we're doing is refusing to grade exams and projects. This is one of the few things that is immediately damaging to the university because (on accredited courses at least), they are not able to issue degrees to students that haven't been given grades in line with agreed processes. It's a huge threat to the universities and as a consequence several (including Cambridge) have already called on the employers association to go back to the negotiating table. If this boycott holds fast there is every reason to think that a negotiated settlement is possible in time for students to get their degrees without significant delays. This is what we all want because we have absolutely no wish to hurt our students (which is why we take this action only in extreme circumstances).
Show threadBarry RowlingsonMay 22, 2023
@neuralreckoning Or offer to do it at twice the usual price and put half in the strike fund?
Show threadDan GoodmanMay 22, 2023
@geospacedman no that would still break the boycott.
Show threadBarry RowlingsonMay 22, 2023
@neuralreckoning Moot point, these costs aren't negotiable anyway.
Show threadAitor AzemarMay 22, 2023
@neuralreckoning Then management will just find someone else to mark (which is simple in faculties with not huge striking numbers)
We have been told by our branch to agree to any offered marking *and actually seek it out*, and just don't do it when the time comes. This way we make sure the marking does not get done, as the ones assigned to marking it are actually striking.
Show threadDan GoodmanMay 22, 2023
@Aitor_Azemar genius! 😂
Show threadJamesHumbers (he/him)May 24, 2023
@neuralreckoning good luck with your campaign. We just finished the longest one in Australian history at the University of Sydney…
Show threadDan GoodmanMay 24, 2023
@jameshumbers did you win?
Show threadJamesHumbers (he/him)May 24, 2023
@neuralreckoning I think that’s a matter of debate. But we democratically voted to stop striking and finish the negotiations, so perhaps a majority of members think so.
Show threadJamesHumbers (he/him)May 24, 2023
@neuralreckoning the area I’m still concerned about is the ongoing casualisation, and teaching-focused academic roles. We have won 300 new positions but I would have rather strengthened conversion clauses. I don’t really care about pay, but ours is both the best in the country and still under inflation - go figure…