Respect FE: UCU Live event, Wednesday 4 October

We are stepping into the final week of the Respect FE industrial action ballot campaign, and I want to thank thousands of you who have backed the union and voted to demand a fair pay rise and workplace respect that you all deserve.  

In my last update I mentioned that, during ongoing negotiations, the Association of Colleges (AoC) made a conditional recommendation on pay of 6.5%, as well as other elements in our claim covering workloads and binding national bargaining. This pay recommendation is a step in the right direction, and is a testament to all the hard work that has been done so far by our FE branches and among UCU members. 

However, this 6.5% recommendation is not binding on all colleges--this is why our union has been demanding a new national bargaining framework for the sector with binding outcomes, so that everyone can get a pay increase. We need a strong result in this ballot to give our negotiators leverage, and to show the employers that we are prepared to act if they try to abrogate their responsibilities towards the hard-working staff.  

That is why every vote counts, and on Wednesday 4 October (18:30-19:30), we are holding a UCU Live event for the final push for more votes, as we enter the final week of the balloting period. All UCU members can take part in this event via YouTube, Facebook or Twitter.  

The last safe date to return the ballot is Thursday 5 October 2023, so if you have not yet voted, there is still time to find your ballot and get it posted right away. You can let us know that you have already voted or request a replacement ballot by clicking here (you will need your membership number).

In solidarity 

Jo Grady 
UCU general secretary