Dear colleague,

We need your vote

Between now and 4 May, we face a critical ballot and together we can make a real change to pay and working conditions right across the higher education (HE) sector.

Salaries are worth 14.5% less today than in 2009 when measured against inflation. Yet the sector has a £1.85bn surplus, and with more students than ever staff are working harder. Set against that and the substantial increases senior management have awarded themselves, the latest offer of 1% is wholly inadequate.

If you believe in fair pay you have to do more than agree – we need you to make your voice heard and VOTE in this ballot. Please make sure you return your ballot and let fellow members know why their ballot is so important.

The current government is trying to change the law so that they and not union members decide when a ballot provides enough support for a strike. That means it has never been more important to participate in your union – and that your vote has never been more important than it is today.

Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary

PS. To see your individual loss in pay since 2009 visit
https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/8087/HE-rate-for-the-job