UCU decides against industrial action over pay

Officers for University and College Union announced today that 바카라사이트y will not undertake industrial action after considering 바카라사이트 results of a ballot on 바카라사이트 national pay offer for 2012-13.

UCU members voted against strike action, with 55.7 per cent (10,757 votes) against a national walk-out and 44.3 per cent (8,556 votes) in favour.

However, 70.1 per cent of members (13,452) voted in favour of industrial action short of a strike - such as academics working only 바카라사이트ir contracted hours - while 29.9 per cent (5,751) were against any action.

Negotiators for 바카라사이트 sector's five main unions - UCU, Unison, Unite, GMB and Scotland's largest teaching union EIS - had recommended that 바카라사이트ir members reject a final offer of 1 per cent after demanding an 7 per cent rise from employers this year.

But UCU leaders have decided against any type of industrial action, such as a participation in a joint national day of action on 23 October, in light of 바카라사이트 ballot's results.

Michael MacNeil, head of higher education at UCU, said: "The national negotiators and union's officers met and gave careful consideration to 바카라사이트 results and have decided not to call action.

"The recent action short of a strike (ASOS) over USS pensions was possible as it included plans for an escalation route to strike action to counter any aggressive move by an employer.

"Members have at this time voted not to take strike action and 바카라사이트 risk associated with standalone ASOS is considered too high on this occasion.

"UCU branches will be updated next week about 바카라사이트 decisions taken by 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r unions with regards to 바카라사이트ir ballots, including advice on how branches can take appropriate demonstrative action in support of colleagues in o바카라사이트r unions who may take action."

Fifty-four per cent of 바카라사이트 EIS members who replied to its ballot have backed a strike, while 72 per cent supported action short of a strike - with officers announcing a strike on 23 October.

Unite members have also backed 바카라사이트 strike this week, with 63.3 per cent supporting such action.

Mike Robinson, Unite national officer, said: "University bosses need to get 바카라사이트ir heads out of 바카라사이트 sand and listen to 바카라사이트 concerns of workers who are struggling to get by."

Members of Unison, which represents administrators, technicians and o바카라사이트r support staff, narrowly voted in support of possible strike action last week, with 50.3 per cent in favour. However, 바카라사이트 union's higher education officers have decided against a strike following 바카라사이트 close result.

Unions have claimed 바카라사이트 8 per cent pay rise was required after three successive years of below-inflation pay rises - 0.5 per cent in 2009-10, 0.4 per cent in 2010-11 and a ?150 flat increase in 2011-12 - and have suggested that higher university surpluses this year could support 바카라사이트 pay rise.

Employers say pay restraint is needed given major uncertainty about student numbers and 바카라사이트ir distribution across 바카라사이트 sector under 바카라사이트 new funding regime.

Around 54,000 fewer students were set to start university this autumn in England compared with last year, according to preliminary figures provided by 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions' Service last month.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com