UCU is conducting an nation strike action ballot over pay and working conditions. By now all members should have received their postal ballot packs at home or at work.

The last safe date to return your ballot papers by post ahead of the deadline is Wednesday 26 November.

If you have received your ballot paper but have not voted yet, please vote as soon as possible and then UCU know that you have by replying to the text message or using the online form at https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/wearetheuniversity-GTVO/

If you have not received, or have lost or damaged, your postal ballot paper you can request a replacement up until midnight on Sunday 23 November using the same form.

Every vote counts and all members should make every attempt to cast their votes. No matter what you view is, please vote. We don’t want to know how you voted, just that you have voted.

Why should I vote YES?

The national pay offer from UCEA for 2025-26, which was imposed by most of the universities from 1 August 2025, was 1.4%. The UCU ask is for:

• a pay uplift that is at least RPI + 3.5% or £2,500, whichever is the higher, on all pay points
• joint action to protect national agreements relating to terms and conditions of employment
• a national agreement to avoid redundancies, course closures, and cuts to academic disciplines across the sector.

Vote YES to tell HWU that we want negotiation, not imposition. Vote YES to call for the broken market system to change. Vote YES to call for decent pay, conditions, and job security for all university staff.