UK universities avoid more strikes as UCU ballot over pay fails

UK universities have avoided further strikes after less than 50 per cent of University and College Union (UCU) members voted in the latest industrial action ballot.

Two-thirds (68 per cent) of those who participated in the poll backed carrying on the strikes over pay and working conditions, but the union has missed the threshold required under trade union laws.

Turnout in the ballot, which covered 140 universities, was only 43 per cent. Seventy-five per cent of voting members had also backed action short of a strike.

General secretary Jo Grady blamed “anti-democratic” restrictions for the setback, as UCU pointed out that the turnout in the latest local elections in the UK was 32 per cent.

But the result will also be seen as a reflection of the failure of the union to make progress in its long-standing dispute, despite multiple strikes in the last academic year and a bitter marking and assessment boycott that disrupted graduations.

The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) called for both sides to now find “common ground” to end the sector’s recent cycle of industrial disputes in light of the ballot result.

UCU has twice previously secured enough votes to hold strikes – in October 2022 and then again in April 2023 – but fell short this time, with some members blaming the union’s leadership for a failure to mobilise but others saying the low turnout was a result of fatigue and disillusionment.

Apart from a pause during the pandemic, strikes have been a constant at UK universities since 2018, when industrial action began over cuts to pensions provided by the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS).

This dispute ended last month when union members voted to accept a deal that cut contributions and restored benefits back to April 2022 levels.

But UCU has found it far harder to make progress in the separate pay dispute. The last two years of negotiations have ended with Ucea opting to implement wage rises of between 3 and 9 per cent and 5 and 8 per cent respectively without the agreement of the unions.

UCU and Unison have both held strikes to try to force Ucea higher, claiming universities have underpaid staff for years and could cover rises out of large reserves, but the employer body refused to move, saying that pay was already at the limit of what the sector could afford.

Announcing its latest ballot result, Dr Grady said it showed “university staff support taking action over pay and conditions” but “anti-democratic restrictions, which single out trade unions for special treatment, mean no action can take place”.

She said it was “clear from this ballot that staff are still angry with vice-chancellors who have failed to deliver on pay, job security and workloads” and the union would now “carefully consider how we best turn our members’ rightful anger into practical action to achieve change”.

Raj Jethwa, Ucea’s chief executive, said: “Now that the ballot is over, unions and employers need to find common ground on the issues that the sector is grappling with. Ucea’s priority is to work with UCU and the other four trade unions on a number of important matters. Good progress was made earlier in the year on the review of the pay spine, workload, contract types and further action to reduce the already falling pay gaps in the sector. Ucea is ready and waiting to resume this work with the unions.

“We also urge all trade unions to join us in prioritising the independent review of sector finances. A crucial element of resetting industrial relations in the sector is developing a shared understanding of affordability. For the sake of students and staff alike, it is now vital to work together to end the sector’s recent cycle of industrial disputes.”

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com