“My personal view is that we should have accepted the previous offer”

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Staff also highlighted that students are not being told the full extent of the boycott and that the University has “no idea” of the scale of the impact it could have. One member of staff stated that “the University is hoping we are not taking part but we are” and “as soon as we get close to exam boards they are going to realise the huge problem they have created.”

The students Exeposé spoke to also suggested that there had been a lack of communication, transparency and guidance. One student said they lacked motivation due to the absence of clarity regarding when they would receive their marks. Another told Exeposé that they thought the University and Guild were in fact doing enough to support students, while another suggested there was little they could do.

Students spoke of not receiving feedback on assessments submitted last term. Another noted that failing to receive feedback on assessments could impact exam preparations. One said, “The impact this will have on the wellbeing of students who are already hanging on by a thread (because of the cost of living crisis) will be devastating.” Final-year students expressed concern that delays to grades could push back their graduations.

One student suggested that

Pollyanna Roberts Deputy Editor

“the UCU simply do not care about students” and that they could have boycotted research work rather than marking, and argued that the University should reimburse students. The student pointed out that third-years and above have already suffered from COVID-related disruption — a sentiment shared by another respondent, who said the boycott felt “like a slap in the face”.

The student pointed out that third-years and above have already suffered from COVID-related disruption

Staff emphasised that they wanted students who were struggling to know that they “are not doing this because it is fun or easy” and they “have no other choice.” They understand that students will be “rightfully pissed off” and “we need them to tell the employers that.” They also stated that the University deductions are “over the top” with marking taking up “about two per cent” of their time while the University will “take 50 per cent of my [their] salary” for taking part in the boycott and they “can even take 100 per cent.” They further stated that “they [the University] are purposefully doing this to make us [the faculty] suffer” and the actions of the University makes them “even more sure” about being part of the boycott. Another respondent reiterated that staff “do not want to be undergoing industrial action” and that it is the University who “have decided to not move forward with negotiations.”

Speaking on how this dispute could be resolved, Prichard emphasised that, unlike the previous strikes which would be called off on a national level, local negotiations are a crucial part of putting an end to this current wave of action. “So it's not head office of UCU [who call off the boycott] … you have to resolve it locally to coordinate how people come back to work, and stagger the return to work processes so that the marking gets done in time. That all demands a lot of local coordination, right? So for us to come off the marketing and assessment boycott the Vice Chancellor and the senior executive team have to work with us to manage that process.”

“We have a local pay claim in, and it was rejected by the university yesterday. We were asking for 12 per cent which we broadly knew was unaffordable. But we asked for it anyway… bear in mind its only half of what we’ve lost in the last ten years.

To put a number on it, I reckon if the employers came to us with, let's say, a two per cent increase on the offer that they've already made and some concrete terms and references around the non-pay elements of the dispute, I reckon this would be called off tomorrow. And I think that that is a really minor commitment.”

Prichard also went on to state that, “My personal view is that we should have accepted the previous offer. But that's my personal view, not the branch’s.”

Students speaking to Exeposév argued that the UCU should focus on spelling out “the positive impact these [boycotts] will have on the student body in the long term” to drum up further student support, and that the union should “show more sympathy for students.”

Prichard also suggested that the key group for encouraging negotiations and an end to the dispute is the student body. “I think the vast majority [of the student body] probably support the UCU position, or at the very least understand the structural problems in the sector and the campaign that we're leading… it's because we've been divided that this has come to a stalemate.

So my message would be back us, do it vocally, or don't back us and do that vocally too. But don't sit on the fence. Now is not the time for that. If you want the marking and assessment boycott over and done with, take a side.”

Prichard also suggested that support from the Students’ Guild could help urge the University to begin negotiations with Exeter UCU. “We know that the student union backs us. The Guild hasn’t done that yet.”

A spokesperson for the University of Exeter told Exeposé: "Providing our students with an excellent educational experience is our highest priority. We understand that many students may have concerns about the impact of the national UCU Industrial Action, and how this may affect their assessments. Supporting students’ learning and enabling students to achieve their goals at university is our highest priority. We are working to minimise the impact of this action on students’ studies. Where the marking of assessments has been impacted, we will ensure that marks are fair and accurate and we will support students in their next steps as they progress to the next stage of their academic life, or into employment. These commitments will ensure that we can support students through this period, protecting their academic outcomes and the integrity of Exeter degrees."

A spokesperson for the Students' Guild stated: "We recognise that this marking and assessment boycott is set to have a significant impact on a small number of Exeter students, and we are fully committed to representing you and advocating for you during this time."