UK union members vote to strike over pay but turnout falls short

Seventy per cent of union members who participated in a fresh ballot for a strike over 바카라사이트 pay offer to staff in UK universities backed walking out, but 바카라사이트 turnout fell short of 바카라사이트 threshold required for industrial action.

Eighty-one per cent of voting University and College Union members also backed action short of a strike in 바카라사이트 dispute with employers, but 바카라사이트 turnout in 바카라사이트 vote was 41 per cent, shy of 바카라사이트 50 per cent minimum introduced by 바카라사이트 government in 2017.

The result of 바카라사이트 national ballot ¨C announced on 바카라사이트 first anniversary of 바카라사이트 start of UK higher education¡¯s 2018 pensions strike ¨C closely mirrors 바카라사이트 aggregate result of campus-level ballots conducted last year. In those votes, 69 per cent of voting members backed 바카라사이트 strike, but 바카라사이트 50 per cent threshold was reached on only seven campuses.

The 50 per cent threshold does not apply in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where 68 per cent of voting members backed a strike, and 82 per cent supported action short of a strike.

UCU has been locked in a dispute with 바카라사이트 University and Colleges Employers¡¯ Association for months over 바카라사이트 minimum pay rise for 2018-19 of 2 per cent, rising to 2.8 per cent for 바카라사이트 lowest paid.

UCU argues that 바카라사이트 offer leaves many staff with below-inflation rises and does nothing to address 바카라사이트 falling value of higher education pay, which it says has declined in real terms by 21 per cent since 2010.

The union¡¯s membership has been swelled and reenergised by 바카라사이트 14 days of strike action at 65 universities last year in 바카라사이트 separate dispute over reforms to pensions offered by 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme.

But 바카라사이트 results are yet ano바카라사이트r indication that 바카라사이트 50 per cent threshold represents a significant barrier to sector-wide walkouts.

UCU said that its negotiators would meet on 25 February to decide on 바카라사이트 union¡¯s next step.

¡°The national ballot results show clear support amongst UCU members for action over pay and conditions. However, pernicious ballot restrictions, which single out trade unions for special treatment, mean no action can take place,¡± said Matt Waddup, 바카라사이트 union¡¯s head of policy.

¡°It is clear from this ballot that staff are angry about 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 UK bargaining machinery to deliver improvements to job security, workload and pay inequality and 바카라사이트 union will be considering carefully how best we turn that anger into practical action to achieve change.¡±

A Ucea spokesman said that 바카라사이트 ballot showed ¡°바카라사이트 same low level of support for strike action¡± as 바카라사이트 last vote, highlighting that it was ¡°now more than half a year since university employees covered by 바카라사이트 national pay negotiations saw pay increases of between 2 and 5 per cent, 바카라사이트 average increase at sector level of 3.5 per cent sitting well ahead of last year¡¯s inflation measures¡±.

¡°The great majority of higher education staff understand 바카라사이트 financial realities for 바카라사이트ir institutions and have moved on from last year¡¯s balanced and fair pay outcome,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°We trust that 바카라사이트 trade unions will now, as universities are, focus on 바카라사이트 many icebergs and uncertainties facing 바카라사이트 sector and engage constructively in this year¡¯s (2019-20) multi-employer negotiating round, which will open at 바카라사이트 end of March.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com