Staff balloted for strike action at the University of West England
18 May 2012
UCU today announced that its members at the University of West England (UWE) will be balloted for strike action in a dispute over workloads. The ballot opens today and will close on Wednesday 6 June.
Staff say a new workload calculation system has resulted in over two-thirds (70%) of academic staff regularly working unreasonable hours to fulfil their duties, while three in five (60%) say they are unable to take their annual leave entitlement.
Under the new system some staff have seen their working hours increase by 25% above their contracted hours, with many reporting that they are being asked to take on more teaching and administrative work in addition to their vital research duties.
UCU said the new system had failed and because the university's management refused to reconsider its use, members at UWE had been left with no option but to ballot for strike action.
UCU regional official, Nova Gresham, said: 'The new workload model has resulted in many staff putting in huge amounts of unpaid overtime and skipping holidays just to keep up. Forcing academics to teach more hours and perform the same demanding research duties is not a blueprint for success.
'Management has succeeded only in demoralising the workforce with this new system which is clearly not fit-for-purpose. UWE members have been left with no choice but to ballot for industrial action.'
Under the new system some staff have seen their working hours increase by 25% above their contracted hours, with many reporting that they are being asked to take on more teaching and administrative work in addition to their vital research duties.
UCU said the new system had failed and because the university's management refused to reconsider its use, members at UWE had been left with no option but to ballot for strike action.
UCU regional official, Nova Gresham, said: 'The new workload model has resulted in many staff putting in huge amounts of unpaid overtime and skipping holidays just to keep up. Forcing academics to teach more hours and perform the same demanding research duties is not a blueprint for success.
'Management has succeeded only in demoralising the workforce with this new system which is clearly not fit-for-purpose. UWE members have been left with no choice but to ballot for industrial action.'
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