Following the vote in our general meeting on Thursday, a ballot was held of branch members on the question of whether the branch should end the marking and assessment boycott and accept the offer made by the University. We are incredibly grateful to University IT staff and to UCU campaigns staff for their prompt response and quick solution when it became clear that technical issues were preventing some ballot emails getting through. 

We now have the result of the ballot. 

Balloted 1877
Responses 801
Turnout 43%

Do you agree that University of Leeds UCU branch should accept this offer and suspend the marking and assessment boycott at this branch?

Yes (accept) 736 (91.9%)
No (reject) 65 (8.1%)

Branch officers will now contact UCU HE officers who are the people who are authorised formally to call off the action. 

This represents a positive step forward at Leeds, and we hope nationally, and I want to acknowledge the constructive and positive spirit in which talks with the University have been conducted. Our UK-wide disputes remain ongoing and we look to the University to use their influence with UUK and UCEA to move matters forward on both USS and Four Fights in order that negotiations can proceed with the same constructive spirit and all HE workers can get the pay, pensions, and working conditions they deserve.  

A marking and assessment boycott is effective but difficult. I want to acknowledge the strength and solidarity of boycotters at Leeds  – you have made a real difference to a lot of people. A number of branches around the UK are still in boycott and we will be in touch next week about solidarity actions and donations.  

Boycotters- please don’t abandon your weekend plans to start marking or processing marks unless that is part of your flexible working pattern. Next week, line managers may well instruct you to prioritise marking and processing of marks over other tasks, which is reasonable, and we have asked that they also set priorities if necessary in terms of what needs to be marked or processed first. You should not be asked to work excessive hours, bearing in mind the amount of time that your marking allocation allocates for a piece of work to be marked, and bearing in mind the need for regular screen breaks. Exam office deadlines should be given some flexibility in order to achieve this. If you feel you are being asked to work excessive hours in order to meet deadlines, please contact ucu@leeds.ac.uk 

This has been an intense week but also a powerful one – we have shown that when we stand together and act with courage we can achieve a lot. 

In solidarity. 

Dr Chloe Wallace
Associate Professor in Law
School of Law
University of Leeds.

Co-Director, Centre for Innovation and Research in Legal Education
Programme Leader, School of Law 4 year programmes

President, Leeds University UCU

This page was last updated on 10 June 2022