Action against union official is dropped

Disciplinary action against a senior union officer at London Metropolitan University who left campus without permission to conduct union work has been dropped.

Amanda Sackur, chair of the University and College co-ordinating committee at London Met, faced the action after travelling to Nottingham on union business.

Managers are understood to have accepted that Dr Sackur spent more than nine hours on academic work on the day in question, but said her absence from London Met's premises between 9am and 5pm was unauthorised.

Brian Roper, the university's vice-chancellor, wrote to Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU, to state that the disciplinary charges would be dropped after union members threatened industrial action.