University of Sheffield Student Union supports our boycott

University of Sheffield Student Union have passed a policy supporting the marking boycott and any strike action we decide to take and calling on the University to publicly put forward a view on changes to USS.

Motion to SUSU Council: Support the Marking Boycott

Council Notes:

That the marking boycott called by UCU beginning 6^th November is a legitimate response to yet another attack on the terms and conditions of employment for academic and academic-related workers in the pre-92 Universities; specifically changes to the USS pension scheme which will leave many staff thousands of pounds worse off in retirement and which will see staff in pre-92 institutions receive lower pensions than staff in post-92 institutions who currently are enrolled in the TPS scheme.
That four pre-92 institutions have already voiced criticisms of the proposed changes; namely Oxford, Cambridge, Essex and Warwick.
That Postgraduate students who teach will be taking part in this boycott and have already been subject to pressure not to do so in some departments of the University.
That UCU as a union has an excellent record in supporting students fighting against cuts to education over the last five years.

Council Resolves:

To declare its support for UCU members in struggle and write to Sheffield UCU to offer solidarity and support.
To make every effort to communicate with students explaining why staff have been forced to take this drastic action and how it will affect them.
To organise events which will allow local UCU representatives to communicate with students and put their case for action to them, perhaps in the same manner as the excellent ‘Strike Café’ last year.
To demand that the University of Sheffield make public its own position on the changes to USS.
To pledge to support any strike action which UCU deem necessary to undertake in the course of this dispute.
To pledge to support any Postgraduate student who suffers victimisation or intimidation as a result of taking part in the marking boycott.

And student representatives from students’ unions from across the UK, including national NUS and NUS Scotland officers, have written to the Independent laying the blame for the current action firmly on university managements and Universities UK. Read more..