Ballot 2025: Questions for HEC Members
We'd like to know why HEC members voted as they did.
UCU Commons members not on UCU’s Higher Education Committee (HEC) have quite a few questions we’d like to ask those HEC members who voted for a UK-wide ballot on industrial action last week. Below are our key questions. We encourage you to ask these questions of any HEC members in your branch, and below there is also information on how to e-mail HEC members to ask them these or other questions.
Questions to HEC members who voted for the ballot:
- Why do you think that insisting on a better pay offer for HE now is an appropriate tactic for UCU? Could you outline the strategy underlying your decision?
- There is research on how and when trade unions can win victories via industrial action. Could you point to any research you are relying on in the strategy you propose?
- How do you see the relationship between a UK-wide ballot on a pay claim and the many local disputes where members are fighting redundancies in their branches? What is the key message you think will win these members over to supporting a UK-wide ballot on pay?
- We know that 27% of members voted in the consultative ballot that ran over three weeks, and 53% of those voted ‘yes’ to the question ‘Are you willing to participate in industrial action in pursuit of an improved offer?’ Can you please explain your strategy for achieving a 50% turnout in the proposed industrial action ballot?
- Could you outline the mechanisms through which you think a claim to UCEA for a higher pay offer can lead to resolution of the evident financial difficulties faced in many parts of the sector?
- Members, especially those precariously employed, need at least a baseline across the sector from negotiations under the Terms of Reference (ToRs) to address contract types, workload and equality pay gaps. Institutions can and should do better on these issues. What will a ballot on pay specifically contribute to establishing improvements for the negotiating groups under the ToRs?
- In casting your vote, did you consider the feasibility of industrial action in branches such as those in Scotland, where for many institutions teaching finishes at the end of March? If so, could you explain your industrial action strategy for these branches?
If you would like to ask HEC members these or other questions, you can find their names here: https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/2677/Higher-education-committee
If you decide to use these questions, we suggest you pick a question or two to ask that most resonate with your concerns.
You can e-mail HEC members via the web form for contacting NEC members (HEC is a subcommittee of NEC). You will need to login to the UCU members area on the website. Please make sure you choose the option to e-mail only HEC members (FEC members were not involved in the ballot decision). https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12088/Send-a-message-to-an-NEC-member`
We’d welcome responses directly to us at ucucommons@gmail.com
We’ll publish any responses we receive.
Research on when strikes succeed:
https://doi.org/10.3898/NewF:110-111.10.2024
https://www.academia.edu/50831091/Making_Threats_Credible_Strike_Threats_in_the_US_2012_to_2016