We have received confirmation that members have voted overwhelmingly for strike action (76.9% Yes) and action short of a strike (82.3% Yes) in our ballot for industrial action. The turnout was 52.6%.
This mandate demonstrates a strong commitment from our members to resist management’s ongoing campaign of job cuts and the threat to staff workload and wellbeing that they represent.
Thank you to all members who voted and helped organise during this ballot, particularly given that at the end of summer many people are taking leave or working off campus, which introduces challenges to getting the vote out (GTVO). Our negotiators are continuing to meet with management, and we hope that this strong mandate encourages management to make an offer that will avert the need to take this strike action. Any decision on whether to take such an offer would need to be taken by the branch collectively in a general meeting, in accordance with a motion passed last year.
Join us at our EGM this Thursday (2nd October at 1pm), where we will discuss how to use this mandate for action most effectively to protect jobs and fight back against the worsening of our workloads and working conditions.