Students studying with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
(CIPD) in London are having their qualifications withheld because of a
lecturers dispute over London weighting pay levels.
Members of the AUT and NATFHE unions are currently withholding students’
marks until the pay dispute is resolved.
An HR adviser who is being forced to wait for her results said the action,
affecting all London universities, was unethical and could potentially harm a
student’s career if the qualification was vital for a new job.
The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "I don’t see why they
are penalising students even if their pay claim is justified."
Mike Emmott, employee relations adviser at the CIPD also criticised the
lecturers’ tactics, which he said could "blow up in their face" by
souring relations with employers. "I understand the problem of living
costs in London, but this could harm CIPD students’ careers," he said.
A spokesman for NATFHE said the union was withholding the marks while its
members considered a 9 per cent pay increase.
The union is to give a response to the offer by 28 February.
"These actions are short of a strike and the sanction has no impact on
the quality of students work," said the spokesman.
