Grading dispute at a University in Wales

According to a UCU report, the university sector has been systematically trying to downgrade roles amongst its academic staff in an attempt to save money i.e. expecting a Grade 6 to do work previously done by a Grade 7.

A comrade at a university in Wales is taking direct action in the form of a work to rule by following the published HERA role and person profiles which set out quite clearly the responsibilities of each grade. At present, rather than re-grading the role to a 7, one by one the Grade 7 duties are now officially being removed. The hope is these successes will encourage collective action by the other Grade 6’s.

The end goal is for the staff to be put on the appropriate grade as the department cannot function if no Grade 6’s are prepared to do the Grade 7 work (and Grade 7 colleagues are already overloaded). The admission and official removal of the Grade 7 responsibilities has also enabled the comrade to lodge a formal grievance against the university for back-pay having performed those Grade 7 responsibilities for 2 ½ years.