Key college staff to keep working
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.KEY UNIVERSITY admissions staff have been exempt from industrial action over pay that is designed to disrupt the annual rush for places that starts later this week.
The Association of University Teachers said full-time admissions officers and staff whose jobs mainly involved processing applications could work despite the boycott on Thursday and Friday. A spokeswoman for the AUT said union law prevented full-time admissions staff from joining the boycott because the vote had been for industrial action, not a strike.
"Staff who are wholly involved in admissions work... who decided to refuse to do that admissions work would be going on strike," she said.
The union said only a small number of staff would be exempt, and that the action would force vice-chancellors to take notice. Universities said contingency plans were in place and that students would face little disruption.
The union's tactics have come under fire from David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Education, who accused lecturers of scoring "a major own goal" with the boycott.
The union said: "We have worked very hard to ensure that there is the least inconvenience to students, but it is impossible for university staff to take action that does not have some impact on students."
n Comprehensive official Ucas university vacancy lists will appear exclusively in The Independent from this Thursday until mid-September. In addition Which Way 99, the ultimate guide to getting into higher education, is published with the newspaper tomorrow.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments