SOAS UCU model letter to students explaining the assessment boycott

Dear students,

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) – your lecturers, teachers and support staff - have begun (from 6/11/2014) a comprehensive boycott of all setting and marking. This is due to the fact that our employers, 

i.e. UK Universities, are implementing changes severely affecting our pensions. The boycott will continue across UK Universities - not only SOAS - until a resolution to the pensions dispute is reached.

The boycott will apply to any form of assessment, including essay marking, the award or classification of any degree, certificate, diploma or any other academic or professional qualification, and the progression from one stage of study to the next (for example from an MPhil to PhD).  UCU members will carry out all other duties – like teaching classes, giving lectures, seeing students during office hours – as normal.

Regrettably, unless the dispute is resolved, the boycott is very likely to impact on your studies. UCU is not taking this action lightly. UCU members don’t want to take any action that damages the interests of students, but your lecturers, teachers and support staff deserve the right to a fair and decent pension.

The University employers body (UUK)* is carrying out changes which will significantly and permanently impact upon pensions. The changes will imply the loss of thousands of pounds every year; they will make pensions worse than those of colleagues in ‘New’ Universities (which apply the Teachers’ Pension Scheme), and will potentially lead to serious problems in recruiting and retaining the best staff.

Employers argue that the changes are necessary, as current pensions are not sustainable considering the deficit made by the University Superannuation Scheme (USS). UCU financial experts strongly contest these claims. Since 2011, the fund’s investments have grown by £8bn and the returns on these investments have outperformed average earnings and inflation. Last year, the fund’s highest paid employee received a pay increase of 50% (to £900k) in reward for ‘sustained performance’. You can read more about the dispute and UCU position here:
http://defenduss.web.ucu.org.uk/files/2011/09/ucu_ussaction_studentbriefing.pdf

You can read on SOAS UCU position at
http://soasucu.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/soas-ucu-response-on-proposed-uss.html

I know that you may find this email upsetting, as you joined this institution expecting high quality teaching and contact time, and also timely assessment. Like you, UCU members also want a speedy resolution of this dispute. The employers’ body (UUK) could end it today if they wanted to, because the pension scheme is sustainable and
that the option is there for a fair settlement. UCU members regret the impact that the boycott may have on you, but feel they cannot sit back and watch as pensions and future security are attacked.

You are not powerless in all of this. You can make your voice heard by emailing Paul Webley SOAS Director and Principal (pw2@soas.ac.uk), and calling on him to press their national negotiators to produce a fair and sustainable proposal.

Thanks for your understanding and support.

All the best,