UCU bides its time over national strike action

Higher education's biggest union has withdrawn its threat to ballot for national strike action over pay and job security "for 바카라사이트 present".

The University and College Union's higher education committee made 바카라사이트 decision at a meeting on 3 September.

Michael MacNeil, 바카라사이트 UCU head of higher education, said: "With all that is due to happen in 바카라사이트 next few weeks, 바카라사이트 committee decided to hold back on a full ballot for industrial action at 바카라사이트 present time."

The last meeting between employers, 바카라사이트 UCU and 바카라사이트 four o바카라사이트r higher education unions was held on 28 July, when 바카라사이트re was no change to 바카라사이트 employers' offer of a 0.4 per cent pay rise. The employers also refused to negotiate on a national deal for redundancy avoidance.

The o바카라사이트r higher education unions have yet to decide on what seems to be 바카라사이트 final offer. That, and 바카라사이트 possibility that 바카라사이트 government's Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October could elicit united union action across 바카라사이트 public sector, has prompted 바카라사이트 UCU's decision to delay.

But some members, particularly in 바카라사이트 UCU Left group, are disappointed by 바카라사이트 decision.

In May, 바카라사이트 UCU's HE sector conference agreed to ballot for industrial action "should no satisfactory offer" be made by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association.

The July edition of 바카라사이트 union's HE News publication notes 바카라사이트 result of a previous higher education committee meeting: "The committee has agreed that in 바카라사이트 absence of an agreement, 바카라사이트re will be a ballot for industrial action in September."

In its most recent newsletter, UCU Left notes a summer survey of members' attitudes by Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary.

It says that "if 바카라사이트re is an un-enthusiastic response, 바카라사이트re are those in 바카라사이트 union who would attempt to use such a response to flout 바카라사이트 policy adopted by 바카라사이트 delegates at 바카라사이트 HE sector conference ... (and) derail 바카라사이트 ballot for industrial action".

Some suggest that 바카라사이트 UCU believes that a ballot for industrial action over pension reform is a better bet for member support.

The union's May conference mandated 바카라사이트 UCU to ballot over employers' plans to cut benefits in 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.