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.
The story of two journalists who meet to share stories. One is Welsh and unable to get into Gaza. The other is Palestinian and unable to get out. As they talk, a very personal history of the Nakba is narrated, from the expulsions of 1948 to the killing streets and tent cities of 2024.
This year’s Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Rally will be held on Saturday 3 May. We will assemble outside the City Chambers in Parliament Square at 11.30 before marching to the Pleasance at 12.00, led by the City of Edinburgh and the Stockbridge pipe bands.
Get ready for a night of music, laughter, poetry and solidarity at The Great Edinburgh May Day Cabaret!
Every year we come together to remember everyone who has been killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work and paying tribute to their families. This year the Edinburgh event will be held at 12.30 on Saturday 26th April at the Memorial Tree in West Princes Street Gardens.
As a dedicated trade union member, you understand the importance of collective support – just as we do at Scottish Universities Community Bank. We are a not-for-profit financial cooperative designed exclusively for university and college staff, offering fair and affordable loans alongside savings options that help you build financial security. We have worked with Heriot-Watt for over 30 years supporting employees financially. Whether you’re planning for the future, managing unexpected expenses, or simply looking for a safe place to grow your savings, we provide a trusted alternative to high-street banks.
