24 July 2023
Open Letter to the Senior Leadership Team of the University of Manchester

We the undersigned condemn the disproportionate and punitive manner in which the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) of the University of Manchester has responded to the recent UCU marking and assessment boycott (MAB). Although the MAB is a lawful, democratic, nationally-coordinated industrial action, the SLT’s response has been disproportionate and intimidatory in a way that has left many colleagues feeling unfairly targeted and victimised. Whether or not we as individuals have participated in the MAB or joined the union, we feel deep unease at this response to a legally-mandated effort to address low pay, spiraling workloads, precarious working conditions, and rampant inequality in Higher Education.

In particular, we condemn the following:

Threats of disproportionate and punitive salary deductions: Throughout the period of industrial action, the SLT has threatened at least 50%-100% salary deductions from April 20th to whenever colleagues resume marking. In the vast majority of cases, this is grossly out of proportion to the labour withdrawn, and it has intimidated many into ending their participation early. For those still in the MAB, these punitive deductions continue to have very serious material and psychological effects.

Derogation of academic standards: The University has exploited emergency regulations designed to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in order to force as many students through progression and graduation procedures as possible. They have done this in the face of many grave concerns raised by colleagues, external examiners, and students alike. By undermining the fairness, consistency, and quality of assessment processes, the University of Manchester has done irreparable damage to the value of the degrees it will award both now and in the future.

Refusal to enter meaningful discussions: The SLT has refused to negotiate with the Manchester branch of UCU regarding pay deductions or the possibility of producing a joint statement on the dispute. Other institutions such as Cambridge, York and Newcastle have worked with their local UCU branches to pause or cap deductions, take a principled stand on the issues at the heart of this action, and/or call publicly for UCEA to resume negotiations with UCU.

We the undersigned call on Manchester’s SLT to immediately return to meaningful negotiations on the above points. Although this has been a painful and damaging period for all involved, it is not too late for open, collaborative discussions, for the drafting of a joint statement, for the end of punitive deductions and the restoration of salaries, and for the restoration of collegiality and academic integrity. We invite the SLT to join us in urgently seeking a collaborative and compassionate resolution to the current crisis in UK Higher Education, and bringing some much-needed stability to this and other universities.

277
signatures
205 verified
  1. Roger Walden, Honorary Lecturer in Labour law
  2. Michael Sanders, Professor, University of Manchester, Manchester
  3. Kathryn Telling, Lecturer, University of Manchester
  4. Frances Leviston, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester
  5. Dr Sabine R Sharp, e-learning support officer, The University of Manchester, Manchester
  6. John Roache, Lecturer, University of Manchester
  7. Charlie Allen, Project Accountant, University of Manchester, Manchester
  8. gemma sou, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  9. Remi Joseph-Salisbury, Reader, University of Manchester, Manchester
  10. David Stewart, Reader, University of Manchester, Manchester
  11. Morgan Rhys Powell, PGR and GTA, University of Manchester
  12. Hal Gladfelder, Professor, University of Manchester, Manchester
  13. Anna Strowe, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  14. Silvia Angeli, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  15. Kaye Mitchell, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  16. Ben Nichols, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  17. John Rimmer, Teaching Associate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  18. Ms. Clara Dawson, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  19. Cara Berger, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  20. Alexia Yates, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester
...
165 more
verified signatures
  1. Matthew Dalzell, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  2. gwenllian matthews, graduate, university of manchester, manchester
  3. Emily Jackson, Graduate, University of Manchester
  4. Julius Bennett, Graduate, University of Manchester, London
  5. Emily Topliss, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  6. Georgina Sharma, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  7. Sam Richardson, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  8. Asli Ali, Graduate, University of Manchester, manchester
  9. Daisy Linton, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  10. Nathan Thwaites, Undergraduate student, University of Manchester
  11. Lucy Franklin, Graduate, University of Manchester, Manchester
  12. Libby Mansergh, Undergraduate Student, The University of Manchester, Manchester
  13. Molly Davies, Graduate, University of Manchester
  14. Joseph McFadden, Graduate, University of Manchester
  15. Sarah Moynihan, Lecturer, University of Manchester
  16. Richard Whalley, Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  17. EB, Student, University of Manchester, Manchester
  18. Catherine Roberts, Lecturer, University of Manchester, Manchester
  19. Mrs Marcia P Shields, Health visitor, Birmingham
  20. Katie Monaghan, Graduate, University of Manchester
Create an open letter
and sign it together
Terms of Service