LECTURERS will vote on industrial action at Bournemouth University and a possible “international boycott.”

The University and College Union (UCU) said senior management was not consulting on major decisions.

Action being considered includes working to contract and a strike.

The union branch passed a motion which said: “Should the ballot produce a majority in favour of industrial action, UCU BU will also ask the National UCU to impose a national and international boycott of Bournemouth University.”

The UCU branch represents just under 300 staff from an academic work force of around 580.

It said the university management is trying to effectively de-recognise the union.

David Heathcote, a psychology lecturer and branch chair, said: “We hope management will honour their obligations and resume proper consultation and negotiation with the recognised trade union and that no ballot of members becomes necessary.”

Branch secretary John Brissenden, a media school lecturer, said no ballot dates had been fixed.

The dispute includes an alleged failure to negotiate on contractual changes that will lead to an increase staff workload. The branch also said there was a “failure to consult on the outsourcing of programme delivery and assessment to private, for-profit companies”.

A national UCU spokesperson said: “As members at Bournemouth University have made clear, no one wants to see industrial action and we are seeking to resolve the issue.

“However, the university cannot ignore just how seriously we are taking this matter.”

Previous clashes at a glance

THE UCU branch has clashed with Bournemouth University several times in recent years.

In 2007 staff staged a black balloon release after over plans to make them asked re-apply for their jobs.

The branch passed a ‘no confidence’ vote against former vice chancellor Paul Curran in 2008.

And a 2011 UCU report said staff were suffering from “alarmingly high” levels of stress.