Lecturers in the UK refuse to mark exams in labor dispute, leaving thousands unable to graduate

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By SYLVIA HUI
Updated 3:34 AM CDT, August 7, 2023

LONDON (AP) — Hafsa Yusuf was supposed to graduate last week. The 21-year-old English literature major had spent 200 pounds ($255) on graduation gown rental, photography and tickets for her family to attend the ceremony.

But just two weeks before the big day, Queen Mary University of London sent her an email saying she couldn’t graduate because of industrial action taken by academic staff across the U.K.

Lecturers at some 140 universities have refused to mark exam papers and coursework, in an escalation of a simmering dispute over pay and working conditions.

“Because of the marking boycott, they didn’t have enough grades to confirm that I was able to graduate,” Yusuf said. “We all paid as normal, just to get an email two weeks beforehand saying you can’t come.”




Read more: https://apnews.com/article/uk-university-strikes-marking-boycott-students-6849320ffe10a13ea6c2cfd06dfdfe49

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. This started in late April

https://www.ucu.org.uk/MAB2023

It seems strange for AP to class this as "news" now. Most universities hold their graduation ceremonies, and give the certificates, in the first half of July.

[malthaussen]

2. Understandable, but I don't think it will win them much sympathy.

They're hurting people not party to the dispute.

-- Mal

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. That's generally the case with public employees

You can't actually hurt the politicians apart from making them look bad for not solving it, or hurt the managers. You have to get public opinion to say "pay them", "fix their pensions", "keep them employed" or whatever.

This boycott has not got much publicity, compared with the concurrent postal workers', teachers', or health service employees' strikes (which affect more of the public at once), so I doubt this will get resolved soon.