Kelly Coate, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, emailed all students about the end of the marking and assessment boycott. Read the full message below:
Dear students,
In recent updates I’ve told you that the University and UCU Sussex have been continuing discussions around a range of issues in response to the on-going industrial action.
These talks have been productive, and I’m very pleased to let you know that the University of Sussex University Executive Group (UEG) and University and College Union (UCU) Sussex have reached agreement which will immediately end the marking and assessment boycott and any further industrial action with this mandate.
What this means for you
This means that the marking and assessment boycott that began on the 23 May has been called off and staff who have previously been involved in the marking and assessment boycott will return to undertake assessments and marking work.
As I’ve mentioned before, not all students would be affected by the marking and assessment boycott, and we continue to expect that all graduations will go ahead as planned, although there may be a slight delay to the release of results.
Academic and professional services staff are now working within agreed timeframes to complete any outstanding marking and assessment work.
How we’re supporting staff
Our staff are a great asset as a University and through our local discussions the UEG and UCU Sussex have agreed the following:
Remuneration (staff pay) and working conditions are important to the recruitment and retention of staff at the University of Sussex.
- A fair reward for staff must be balanced with the long-term sustainability of the University.
- UEG and UCU must work together to secure the best outlook for the whole University.
- Additionally, there are other issues that we will continue to discuss locally and if you’d like to you can read more about these in the full UEG and UCU statement in full.
I am sure you too are pleased that as a result of agreements on the issues outlined in the statement, this ends immediately all industrial action under the current UCU mandate (to 7 October 2022), including the marking and assessment boycott and the threat of strike action.
With very best wishes,
Kelly
Kelly Coate
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students