University union lays ground for its first ever strike ballot against Labour

UCU delegates passed the motion to enter into dispute from the Congress hall in Liverpool, yesterday (Sunday) [HE14]. The proposed dispute would be over the funding issues successive governments have created that have led to the current financial crisis. Most recently the Labour government has slashed funding for specialist provision by over £100m and proposed further restrictions, including a levy on international students, on top of a stringent visa regime that has already crippled international recruitment.  The government, moreover, continues to cling to a boom or bust model in which the financial stability of institutions is dependent on hoovering up students.

The union, which is the UK's largest post-16 education union, representing over 120k education staff, is demanding the Education Secretary addresses the funding issues in order to avoid the dispute.

The vote follows a torrid year in higher education and UCU has already raised the alarm that over 10,000 higher education jobs are at risk. In response to the threatened cuts, its members have won ballots for strike action at 16 universities so far this academic year and are fighting to protect jobs and course provision. Most recently, the union has pushed back against compulsory redundancies at Sheffield and Cardiff universities.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'It is shameful that university cuts have become so severe under a Labour government that our union is now laying the ground for a trade union dispute with the Education Secretary.

'Our members are fighting to protect jobs and UK academia's world leading reputation. But we are being hamstrung by a government that has refused to deal with the underlying financial issues  plaguing our sector and now seems intent on making the crisis worse still with new cuts, levies, and restrictions on recruitment.

'The Prime Minister and Chancellor must stop standing in the way of proper funding for our universities. This vote sends them a crystal-clear message: if you refuse to listen to the educators responsible for the world leading reputation of Britain's universities, then you must be prepared to face a potential strike ballot.'