Ballot notice served on employers

I am writing to inform you that notice has been served on the employer for a UK-wide industrial action ballot over pay, job security, and terms and conditions.

Ballot papers will be dispatched by post on Monday 20 October in what will be a defining vote or our sector.

So far in the We are the University campaign we have engaged members in the workplace and online, our branches are actively building support locally and we have used every opportunity possible politically and in the media. It now comes down to us.

I am asking you to use the next six weeks to speak to every single one of your colleagues and convince them to vote YES in the ballot.

I also want to address something that has come up a lot at meetings I have attended. A concern that the union will call strike action you cannot support. We are putting in place an inclusive and far reaching engagement plan.

Following the ballot result we will hold a consultation week with members from 1 December to 5 December.

We will gather feedback from our branches after consultation week, and our higher education committee (HEC) will meet shortly after that to consider next steps in light of that feedback.

We will ensure this whole period is used to make your voices heard.

Finally, our next live event takes place tomorrow [Tuesday 14 October] at 19:00 and it is going to be a very special one. Trade union leaders including Eddie Dempsey, Dave Ward, Daniel Kebede and others will join us to show solidarity to both our HE and FE members.

You can watch live on this link.

For now, lets get ready for next week and the whole voting period.

We can and we will do this. We are the University.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary