Respect FE ballot results

The results of the Respect FE industrial action ballots are now available on our website, where you can find out the Yes/No vote and turnout in your employer.

Members in 22 out of 25 employers gained a legal mandate for action after crossing the 50% turnout threshold and voting YES. Members in three other employers also voted YES, but do not have a mandate after narrowly missing the threshold:

• the overall YES vote for action was 89.9%
• turnout was 57.8%
• 29 out of 33 branches originally balloted gained a mandate for action (aggregated by employer).

Make no mistake--this is an outstanding set of results. 29 is by far the largest number of FE branches to cross that turnout threshold in one ballot since the threshold became law in 2016. It shows just how much this campaign matters to members and also how hard UCU branches and staff have worked to get organised and strike-ready.

We are at a critical moment in the sector as colleges start to benefit from recent funding increases. Everyone who voted and helped get the vote out has put the union in a fantastic position to ensure more of that money is invested in staff.

Next steps and potential industrial action

Industrial action can only formally be called by UCU's elected further education committee (FEC) or, if the FEC is unable to meet, its elected officers (the chair, vice-chairs, and president). The FEC officers will now consider these results and start putting together a plan of industrial action to take place early next term.

We are giving your employer plenty of time--well over a month--to consider these ballot results and come back with an acceptable offer. Your resounding vote for action has placed the ball in their court. And if your employer does force you to take action next term, I will be visiting as many picket lines as I can--and I know I will see huge numbers of members all over the country standing together and taking action to get what you deserve.

Support for action from the UCU fighting fund

UCU's fighting fund is available to support members whose employer deducts their pay for taking industrial action. The fund is managed by UCU's elected officers (the honorary treasurer, president, president elect, vice president, and past president) and I can confirm that money has been set aside to support these disputes. Please look out for further details and updates in the near future.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary