Students will potentially face six more months of strike action as UCU renews mandate
The action will affect over 150 universities across the UK
The UCU has renewed its mandate for industrial action.
This means that uni students are potentially facing six more months of strikes.
The UCU will begin a consultation tomorrow with its members over new proposals put forward by employers.
If uni staff decide further strike action is required, the ballot results now mean that the union is able to implement this at 150 universities across the UK.
In the pay and working condition ballot, 85.6 per cent voted yes for strike action, with a turnout of 56.4 per cent. In the pension ballot, 89 per cent voted yes for strike action, with a turnout of 58.4 per cent. In both of these ballots, the yes vote is up from the previous ballot.
UCU members also “overwhelmingly” voted yes for action short of strike in both ballots. The UCU is now beginning preparations to serve notice for a marking and assessment ballot.
Jo Grady, UCU general secretary said: “Today belongs to our members, who have made UCU the first education union in the UK to win back-to-back national ballots, twice beating the Tories’ anti-union laws. The numbers voting in favour of action has only increased and if employers were in any doubt about the determination of university staff to save the sector, they can be no more.”
As a result of the strike action which occurred earlier this year, the UCU won commitments to restore pensions and end zero-hour contracts. Further talks have also taken place on closing equality pay gaps, addressing unsafe workloads, and reducing insecure work.
Most Read
Grady also said: “Employers thought we could not win a national ballot. They were wrong. Employers thought we could not repeat it. They were wrong again. Every vice chancellor in the UK today now knows we will win any strike action ballot we call.
“Members will now be consulted on proposals in both disputes, and employers know strike action can be called again at will. Importantly, we have shown university bosses that it is staff who are in the driving seat.”
Featured image via @ucu on Twitter and UCU website.
Related articles recommended by this writer:
Latest
Manchester student collapsed three times on overcrowded Northern train
She says the experience has left her afraid to commute by rail
Back and better than ever: Meet the boys boxing in Fight Night Durham
Who is fighting who, who described their opponent as a ‘pencil’, and who is headlining? Your guide to the lads putting it all on the line
Cambridge college master brands Ukraine relief fund a ‘mistake’
The college have been accused of ‘double standards’ in their lack of support for Palestinian students
Britain’s Got Talent to I’m A Celebrity: Dean McCullough’s huge transformation over the years
He had a hair transplant before going into the jungle
Wait, are the I’m A Celeb campmates are allowed to smoke and vape?!
The jungle has very strict rules
From ‘bully’ to bawler: Rebekah Vardy’s time on I’m A Celeb was something
Rebekah Vardy has not held back in her critiques
Ouch! These are officially the I’m A Celeb cast members who got paid the least for the jungle
Honestly, it’s not worth it
Where is Mazher Mahmood now? The disgraced ‘Fake Sheikh’ who set up Tulisa’s drug sting
Mahmood went to prison for 15 months in 2016
Cardiff Met student who battled years of addiction named as breakthrough artist
The fellowship supports emerging artists and provides them with a £10,000 grant
All the Russell Group unis which might get rid of your lecturers to save money
Half the Russell Group unis are trying to cut jobs in 2024
Manchester student collapsed three times on overcrowded Northern train
She says the experience has left her afraid to commute by rail
Back and better than ever: Meet the boys boxing in Fight Night Durham
Who is fighting who, who described their opponent as a ‘pencil’, and who is headlining? Your guide to the lads putting it all on the line
Cambridge college master brands Ukraine relief fund a ‘mistake’
The college have been accused of ‘double standards’ in their lack of support for Palestinian students
Britain’s Got Talent to I’m A Celebrity: Dean McCullough’s huge transformation over the years
He had a hair transplant before going into the jungle
Wait, are the I’m A Celeb campmates are allowed to smoke and vape?!
The jungle has very strict rules
From ‘bully’ to bawler: Rebekah Vardy’s time on I’m A Celeb was something
Rebekah Vardy has not held back in her critiques
Ouch! These are officially the I’m A Celeb cast members who got paid the least for the jungle
Honestly, it’s not worth it
Where is Mazher Mahmood now? The disgraced ‘Fake Sheikh’ who set up Tulisa’s drug sting
Mahmood went to prison for 15 months in 2016
Cardiff Met student who battled years of addiction named as breakthrough artist
The fellowship supports emerging artists and provides them with a £10,000 grant
All the Russell Group unis which might get rid of your lecturers to save money
Half the Russell Group unis are trying to cut jobs in 2024