A MARKING and assessment boycott hit 145 universities across Britain today after employers failed to produce an improved offer in the ongoing pay and conditions dispute.

Earlier this week, members of the University and College Union (UCU) working in higher education voted to reject proposals by bosses.

Today’s action, which the union said will continue until an agreement is reached, covered all marking and assessment jobs, including those in writing, online or verbally.

The boycott also covered assessment-related work such as exam invigilation and the administrative process of marking, which could impact student graduations.

A number of university employers announced ahead of the action that they will make wage deductions of up to 100 per cent for staff taking part in the boycott, despite staff continuing to teach, lecture and support students as normal, UCU said.

The union condemned the threats and said further strike action could be called in response.

It came as the Office of the Independent Adjudicator revealed today that student complaints to the universities watchdog surged to a record high last year, as students faced “multiple challenges.”

Nearly two in five of the complaints were about academic appeals, including problems with marking and final degree results, compared with 29 per cent in 2021.

Ahead of the boycott, UCU general secretary Jo Grady said that “ample opportunity has been given” for employers to improve their offer in the pay and conditions dispute.

She said: “Staff have been crystal clear that they are worth more than what has been put on the table and now bosses need to wake up and prevent widespread disruption hitting graduations.

“We never wanted to be in this position, but for over a decade pay has been held down and conditions attacked.

“Those who run our universities only have themselves to blame, but rather than resolve the disputes they are instead threatening to take 100 per cent of wages from staff who are still performing the majority of their duties. It is disgraceful and vindictive behaviour.”

Ms Grady also sent a message to university students, saying the union does not want the boycott to go on “any longer than it needs to, but the status quo cannot continue.”

She urged students to contact their vice chancellors and tell them to “get back around the table with a fair offer.”