UCU have advised that staff participating in the assessment boycott should respond to the email as follows:

‘I intend to support the UCU assessment and marking boycott but will not be doing so until x date when I have scheduled work to do which is included in the boycott. I will not be engaged in marking every day after that date. Please note that I would have expected all the work I can currently anticipate and which is covered by the boycott to have been completed by x date.’

UCU have advised that you calculate the date you would anticipate completing the work based on how long this would usually take you from the start date.

For example, if I have scheduled assignments to pick up on 19th November, and it would usually take me two days to complete this, I would state that I would have expected all the work I can currently anticipate and which is covered by the boycott to have been completed by 21st November. If the boycott is still ongoing at the time of your next piece of scheduled work, you would need to inform them of these dates again.

You should be aware that the employer retains a legal right to deduct pay from day one of action so long as they are clear that they intend to do so irrespective of whether you are taking action on each day or not. However, we have been advised that the strategy which will minimise risk for members is to state the dates during which they would have anticipated undertaking assessment work covered by the boycott.

Please see UCU Assessment boycott FAQs for the full list of national FAQs.