Today we smashed the ballot thresholds in both of the pension and pay and conditions disputes, renewing our mandate for another 6 months.

In the pension ballot, the yes vote was 89% on a turnout 58.4%. In the pay and conditions ballot, 85.6% on a turnout of 56.4%. The Yes vote is up in both disputes.

Follow-up consultation

Members will now be consulted on how to proceed in both disputes via an electronic consultation.

There has been progress but no offer in the pension dispute and the recommendation from Higher Education Committee (HEC) is that members should vote to note backed by the renewed mandate which will allow us to resume strike action after the employer consultation later this year if necessary. The most recent indications are that the full restoration of benefits is affordable.

HEC recommends that members reject the proposals in the 4-Fights dispute over pay and conditions. A yes vote would see no further improvement in the pay offer for this year or next and we would not be able to further industrial action until February 2024 due to pre-conditions on negotiation imposed by the employer.

The HEC recommendations are consistent with the branch position established at the recent quorate member meeting.

When you do receive the consultation email, please take the time to read the reports from the negotiators and consider the options.