UCU New Deal for FE industrial action ballot: results and next steps

• click here for a list of UCU branches that participated in the New Deal for FE ballot
• click here to view the scrutineer's reports to find out the Yes/No vote and the turnout for your college.

The New Deal for FE ballot was run in a 'disaggregated' fashion. This means that at each college employer group, UCU has to achieve 50% ballot turnout and a majority voting YES in order to gain a legal mandate for industrial action.

In total, UCU members working in 32 employers have now gained a legal mandate for action, and their employers face the prospect of hard-hitting strike action over pay, workloads, and national bargaining if they do not reach agreement. This is testament to the hard work of UCU reps and staff getting the vote out on the ground. [Note, 9 December 2025: UCU members working in 30 employers will take action, as UCU members at Runshaw College, York College and Lakes College West Cambria accepted offers from employers and will take no further action.]

Moreover, UCU members at 18 further education colleges have already settled their disputes after winning pay awards worth up to 8.7% so will not need to participate in further action. [Note, 9 December 2025: UCU members at 20 further education colleges have now settled their disputes, now including Runshaw College.]

Members at 21 colleges did not meet the anti-trade union ballot threshold, despite all delivering resounding YES votes for strike action. If you are in one of these colleges, rest assured that the union will continue to fight for you. We will continue to push in all branches in dispute for a proper deal on pay and workloads, and we will continue fighting for binding national bargaining so that no college is left behind.

Next steps

The elected representatives on UCU's further education committee (FEC) will meet on Friday 21 November and will make several important decisions, one of which will be when strike action will take place. Please look out for a communication following the FEC, in the week beginning Monday 24 November.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary