AN assessment and marking boycott at Durham, Newcastle and York universities gets underway today as part of a row over proposed changed to staff pensions.

The University and College Union (UCU) has written to all 69 universities affected by the dispute and warned of even greater sanctions if they dock full pay from the staff involved.

UCU members will stop marking work, returning marks and setting or sitting exams and coursework from today .

The union said assessment constituted a minority of work for most academic and professional staff and it would be unjust to fine members 100 per cent of their wages for taking part in the boycott as some institutions propose to do.

So far only York University has told the UCU that it will be levying 100 per cent pay deductions from day one of the dispute.

UCU said there are clear splits on the employers’ side with Imperial College proposing to deduct just 25 per cent from staff engaged in the boycott and many other institutions taking care to reserve their right to deduct pay from lecturers taking part in the action.