‘Indefinite’ strike called at Goldsmiths after marking pay docked

Goldsmiths, University of London is facing “indefinite” strike action amid a row about pay being deducted for academics boycotting marking.

The university announced plans in April to cut £22 million from its budget, the third round of redundancies at Goldsmiths in the past five years. 

Up to 269 posts across professional services and academic divisions have been put at risk as part of the cuts, according to the University and College Union (UCU).  

Academics have launched a marking and assessment boycott in response, prompting the university to announce it will dock 100 per cent of pay for anyone participating, even if staff continue to complete all their other duties, including teaching, research and recruitment. 

The UCU branch has now informed the university that its members will go on indefinite strike until their pay is reinstated. 

“Our members spent the bank holiday weekend with the reality of 100 per cent pay deductions for their action short of strike [ASOS] and a lockout hanging over them, simply for taking lawful action to protect jobs, courses and student provision,” UCU Goldsmiths co-president Joe Newman said.

“We are crystal clear: docking 100 per cent of pay is a lockout and staff facing these brutal deductions will refuse to work,” he said. “That is why members have responded in the strongest possible terms: with notification of our indefinite strike.”

Full pay deductions for marking boycotts have proven controversial in the past. Staff at Queen Mary University of London have challenged their institution’s decision to take a similar move during a 2023 marking and assessment boycott. A tribunal hearing on the case is finally set to be heard in October.

Jo Grady, general secretary at UCU, added that the university’s management is “showing its true colours” by refusing to pay staff. 

“If it cares about students, it should lift this threat and begin working with us so we can resolve this dispute and allow students to learn and graduate,” she said.

A spokesperson for Goldsmiths said that it was “deeply disappointing that the union has chosen to go on strike”, adding that their “action threatens to significantly impact our students’ ability to graduate or progress through the university”.

“We have put in place a range of measures to support students at this time and we are doing everything we can to help them move forward.

“We have a statutory and moral duty to ensure our students progress, including through marking and assessment.

“Given the significant impact of [ASOS] or strike action on our students and their progress, we believe it is appropriate to make 100 per cent deductions for partial or full withdrawal of labour.”

juliette.rowsell@timeshighereducation.com