London Metropolitan University staff have previously walked out on strike over plans to cut 120 jobs

LECTURERS at a university in Holloway have ceased markings students’ essays and exams, in their latest effort to resist a plan to cut more than one hundred jobs.

Staff at London Metropolitan University had already walked out on strike in protest against the mass lay-offs ordered by the institution’s chiefs.

The Tribune has reported in recent months on the decision to cut 120 jobs in response to “financial pressures” which left lecturers “devastated” and “shocked”.

Now academics have started a marking and assessment boycott, which could cause delays to students’ graduations.

They say the action will continue “indefinitely”, but staff received an email saying those participating in the action will have their pay docked.

“Please note that the university considers participation in this boycott to amount to partial performance; and the University does not accept partial performance,” the email read.

“Staff who wish to participate in the marking and assessment boycott will have pay deducted and if any other duties are carried out by staff on the days they participate in the marking and assessment boycott, they are done on a voluntary basis.”

University College Union members gathered outside the Department for Education on Friday to raise the alarm on the “devastating” university cuts being enacted at institutions across the country.

“It’s like what happened to the mining industry in the 1980s”, said Glyn Robbins, a lecturer at London Met who is facing redundancy. As much as we are angry at the local chiefs, it is a government issue of under-funding and we need to take the fight to them as well.”

He added: “Students are furious, but they don’t blame us. They are very sympathetic, but they are furious with the university. London Met are doing themselves huge reputational damage. It is a bad situation, but we are going to keep on fighting.”

A London Met spokesperson said: “We have concluded a meaningful consultation with colleagues, which has saved a number of posts from compulsory redundancy. We remain committed to working with UCU on the issues raised, and to protecting the university from the financial pressures affecting institutions across the sector.

“Our focus now is on assessing and marking students’ work as planned, and on delivering a graduation this summer that is uninterrupted and worthy of our students’ achievements.”