Ballots for industrial action open today at universities across the UK

• 149 universities being balloted for strike action and action short of strike
• Five days of strike action also set to begin at 68 universities next week
• Preparation being made for UK wide marking and assessment boycott

UCU said the ballots, which opened at 149 universities today and will run until Friday 8 April, pave the way for action to continue throughout the remainder of 2022.

The union's members are voting on whether to take strike action and action short of strike (ASOS) in both of the two ongoing disputes: pensions, and pay and working conditions [NOTE 1]. UCU originally balloted universities in October 2021, and mandates at most universities will end on Tuesday 3 May. Successful reballots will allow staff to continue taking action through this calendar year.

Over 50k university staff at 68 universities are set to begin five more days of strike action from Monday 21 March, after recently taking up to ten days of strike action over three weeks, from Monday 14 February to Wednesday 2 March, having gone on strike for three days in December 2021.

In total 149 universities face new ballots. Staff at 65 universities in the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) are being balloted over pension cuts, and staff at 143 universities are being balloted over pay and working conditions. Some universities face ballots in both disputes, others just one.

Successful ballots could see action short of strike such as a marking and assessment boycott beginning next term. This could stop hundreds of thousands of students from graduating [NOTE 2].

Employer representative, the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, said university bosses are "compelled" to dock 100% of the pay of staff taking part in ASOS. So far only Queen Mary, University of London, has attempted to do so. UCU launched a local strike ballot in response and said that if any other university tries to emulate Queen Mary, they too will face further disruption [NOTE 3].

Last month university employers forced through USS pension cuts which will see 35% slashed from a typical member's guaranteed retirement income. In the pension dispute, UCU is demanding that employers revoke their cuts and re-enter negotiations. 

New retail price index inflation figures of 7.8% mean UCU estimates staff pay is now down by 25.5% in real terms since 2009 [NOTE 4]. Over 70k academics are employed on insecure contracts. The gender pay gap in UK universities sits at 16%, whilst the disability pay gap is 9% and the race pay gap is up to 17% [NOTE 5].

In the pay and working conditions dispute the union is demanding an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice; a framework to eliminate zero-hours and other insecure contracts; and meaningful action to tackle unmanageable workloads; as well as a £2.5k pay rise for all university employees.

The union said universities can more than afford to meet the demands of staff. University finance figures show total income across the sector is around £41.9bn with reserves of £46.8bn. On average, vice-chancellors enjoy full pay packages of £269k per year. Students have been supporting the strikes and the National Union of Students joined the previous round of  action with a student strike on Wednesday 2 March.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'Huge numbers of university staff will again vote to take action in industrial ballots across the UK. Either vice chancellors withdraw their devastating cuts to pensions and listen to reasonable staff demands for better pay and working conditions, or they face further disruption.

'Many campuses have already seen up to 13 days of strike action so far this academic year, and they face another five day long walkout, which will begin next week. Successful reballots could see this action extended throughout the rest of the calendar year and include a marking and assessment boycott. This could stop universities being able to award degrees and bring the sector to a standstill.

'Universities generate income of tens of billions each year and sit on huge reserves. Students and staff know very well that vice chancellors can afford to meet staff demands.'

Notes

[1] Universities being balloted:

Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University are not being balloted. Northern Ireland legislation means they can continue to take industrial action without being reballoted.