UCU members reject latest pay offer and show support for strikes

University and College Union (UCU) members have voted to reject the latest employer offer on pay while a majority of those who took part have indicated they would be prepared to go on strike to try to secure a better deal.

The consultative ballot was held following the culmination of a protracted round of negotiations that ended with the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (Ucea) offering uplifts of between 2.5 and 5.7 per cent, with the lowest paid receiving more.

An initial £900 payment that forms part of the increase has already been paid by most universities, with the rest due in March 2025. A record number of institutions have opted to delay the pay increase, citing financial pressures.

UCU members have now voted to reject this deal by 68 per cent to 32 per cent on a turnout of 27 per cent.

In the same ballot, 53 per cent of members said yes to the question: “Are you willing to participate in industrial action in pursuit of an improved offer?”

But, with a majority of 86 per cent to 14 per cent, members said they wanted to accept other elements of the offer including new terms of reference for negotiations on a pay spine review, contract types, equality pay gaps and workload.

A union spokesperson said its higher education committee (HEC) will meet next week to consider the results and decide on next steps.

Ucea has previously indicated that it was prepared to progress talks on other elements of the claim even if members rejected the pay deal – but only if the union did not pursue a ballot for industrial action.

In a letter to general secretary Jo Grady, Ucea’s chief executive Raj Jethwa reiterates this offer after the ballot results were published.

“Your members have signalled rejection of the pay offer, but confirmed strong support for joint work as set out in our full and final offer,” Mr Jethwa writes.

“Ucea and our members remain fully committed to the proposals for joint work set out in our offer. Our position also remains clear, however, that if UCU ballots for industrial action, we will not take forward this joint work with your union. This would be deeply unfortunate.”

“Given the support among members for joint work and the stretched financial position of the sector, which prevents any further improvement in the implemented pay award, we urge you to grasp the opportunity to work with Ucea on the review of the pay spine, contract types, workload and equality pay gaps which UCU members have overwhelmingly supported.”

A prolonged period of industrial action over pay and pensions came to an end last year after only 43 per cent of members voted in a ballot, missing the 50 per cent minimum turnout requirement.

However, the new Labour government has pledged to repeal the Conservative-era law which demands this level of turnout.

In a statement Mr Jethwa said it was “disappointing” that those who voted had backed industrial action and urged the union “to grasp the opportunity to work with Ucea on our important joint priorities”.

tom.williams@timeshighereducation.com