Notification of an industrial action ballot
Tuesday, 08 January 2019
The University and College Union (UCU) has notified the University that it will be balloting its members to seek support for industrial action relating to a dispute in respect of the 2018-19 pay negotiations.
Discussions over pay in higher education are managed through the annual National Pay Bargaining process. A Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff (JNCHES), with representation from both employers and trade unions, facilitates the negotiations and any disputes arising from this. The bargaining process for 2018-19 is now closed.
The National Pay Bargaining process is separate to the discussions that led to the pension dispute, which resulted in strike action at a number of universities last year.
The UCU ballot will open on 15 January and close on 22 February 2019.
UCU members are being asked to vote in support of strike action and action short of strike (ASOS). For the purposes of this ballot ASOS will consist of: working to contract; not covering for absent colleagues; not rescheduling lectures or classes cancelled due to strike action; not sharing materials relating to lectures or classes cancelled as a result of strike action; not undertaking any voluntary activities; and a marking and assessment boycott.
If strike action and/or ASOS follows it is expected to begin no earlier than 14 days after the close of the ballot.
We will keep you updated on developments.