Are you eligible to vote in UCU elections and industrial ballots?

We estimate that a very large number of our student members should be full members but do not realise it and are therefore missing out on opportunities to play a more active part in the union. 

As a rule of thumb, if you are an enrolled postgraduate student contracted to teach in the institution where you study, you qualify for full membership. 

To update your membership click here. If you need more information first, please read on. 

Why do I need to update my membership? 

It is important to update your membership if you are eligible because only full members have the right to access workplace support from the union and to take part in UCU's decision making structures. Full members can vote in UCU's industrial ballots and elections, including the important annual elections to the national executive committee (NEC) and officer and trustee posts that opened on Friday 31 January and close on Wednesday 4 March. You might be inadvertently disenfranchising yourself by not updating your membership. 

For more information about the elections and why they matter please see my recent email to all members. If you are eligible for full membership and change your status before 21 February you will automatically receive ballot papers to vote in this year's elections. 

How do I know if I'm eligible for full membership? 

The 'student member' category which you are currently in covers only students with no relevant employment. If you are a student who is contracted to teach in the institution where you study, you are probably eligible for full membership. It is likely that the full membership you are eligible for is covered by our current free membership offer. 

For more information about these categories please see this web page. Please check your eligibility, change your details if necessary, and do so as soon as possible in order to make sure you can use your vote. If after reading this email you think you need to update your membership, you can do so here. 

Thank you for being part of UCU and for continuing to strengthen our union.

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary