Universities: Impact of Industrial Action on Students

Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway Excerpts

Thursday 16th March 2023 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

I am very happy to take back my noble friend’s recommendation to the Office for Students.

[Baroness O'Grady of Upper Holloway (Lab)]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that, as long as an employer does not face a financial penalty—for example, in reimbursing students, or indeed with the railways, where the Government initially said they had no responsibility for settling the dispute—there is less incentive on the employer to get around the table to negotiate a fair settlement?

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

Obviously, the noble Baroness brings many years of expertise to this matter, but I think that employers in universities and other sectors of the economy are suffering great penalties—financial, reputational and in terms of their relationships with their customers—which have a considerable impact on them.