University boycott begins

Last month, the UCU lecturers’ union announced a global boycott of the University of Leicester in response to a long-running dispute over redundancies.

The union is deploying a greylist sanction which means it is asking its members, other unions, labour movement organisations and the international academic community to support its members at Leicester in any way possible.

Measures include not applying for any advertised jobs at Leicester, not speaking at or organising academic or other conferences at the university, not accepting invitations to give lectures there and not accepting positions as visiting professors or researchers at Leicester.

A recent webinar had to be immediately cancelled when all three external speakers withdrew from the event in support of the boycott.

Strike action is also under way after 84% of UCU Leicester members voted in favour. The action includes a marking and assessment boycott which could impact students’ graduations.

The university had originally threatened 145 staff with compulsory redundancy, although that number is now slightly lower due to some staff taking voluntary redundancy or accepting inferior contracts.

Managers deny there are financial reasons for planned redundancies. But the university’s 2019-20 financial statements show the institution is having to borrow money to remain financially viable.