Eight in 10 vote for university strikes

A UK-wide university strike has moved nearer after over 70,000 university staff at 150 universities voted “yes” to industrial action in two ballots which the UCU union has described as “historic”.

Staff took part in two separate ballots, one on pay and working conditions, and one on cuts to pensions. More than eight in 10 of those who voted were in favour of strikes.

The UCU said it now has a mandate to deliver strike action at practically every university in the UK, and has called on vice chancellors to enter negotiations immediately and make improved offers.

In the pay and working condition ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 81.1% and the turnout was 57.8%. In the pension ballot, the yes vote for strike action was 84.9% and the turnout was 60.2%. Staff also voted overwhelmingly for action short of strike in both ballots.

This latest mandate for strike action comes as fellow education unions the NAHT and NEU prepare to ballot.

This comes on top of huge ballots of health workers (see previous issues), involving hundreds of thousands of workers across the NHS.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12581/University-staff-vote-for-UK-wide-strike-action-in-historic-ballot

https://www.naht.org.uk/News/Latest-comments/Press-room/ArtMID/558/ArticleID/1875/School-leaders-in-Wales-and-England-move-to-formal-industrial-action-ballot-over-pay-and-funding

https://neu.org.uk/press-releases/neu-announces-dates-formal-ballots-over-pay

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/october/ambulance-workers-in-england-begin-strike-ballot-as-new-pm-warned-over-nhs-pay

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/ambulance-strike-ballot-begins-more-15000-workers-vote