Student leaders urge Dundee University lecturers to end pay dispute stalemate

Dundee University student leaders have warned a national pay dispute could have a “catastrophic” impact.

More than 30 members of the students’ association and the student representative council have signed an open letter to the University and College Union (UCU) to urge them to resume talks.

They say they are “extremely worried” about the potential effect on students if the dispute is not resolved. Lecturers across the UK have already taken strike action and there is now a threat to boycott marking students’ work.

The letter states: “Unless a settlement can be reached in the near future the effect this stalemate may have on students at the university and elsewhere could be catastrophic.

“Should the UCU implement the proposed marking boycott of students’ work the effect this will have on all students will be entirely negative.”

The UCU boycott is due to begin on April 28 and will result in academics refusing to mark course work assignments, dissertations and examinations.

Fresh talks with employers are scheduled for April 15.