Vote now and vote yes

You may have seen the stories from the BBC and the Guardian covering the launch of a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which exposes the depth of cuts to sixth form and further education (FE) colleges.

I have said that for staff this is nothing new - we know pay has fallen by 25% in real terms since 2009 - but it does highlight that we need to keep fighting for fair pay in FE.

I urge you to take the next step and vote YES for strike action in the current ballot.

If you're on Twitter, you can use this link to let your followers know you're voting YES.

Increased public awareness and growing support for the dire situation for staff and students is one part of a sustained campaign for investment, but the most crucial part will be a strong YES result in the pay ballot, rejecting the unsustainable level of funding provided to colleges and authorising strike action.

A high turnout in the ballot will show that the challenges of low pay are deeply and widely felt in our community. 

Voting YES means you stand with other staff, students and their families who have had enough of the excuses.

The turnout threshold enabling lawful action is 50% - reaching 50% is a challenge, but it is a must. Every vote will count.

Your ballot paper should have arrived at your preferred address. If you don't know your preferred address is, you can check that here.

This is what the envelope looks like - when it arrives please tick YES and post it back in the additional prepaid envelope provided.

If your ballot is yet to arrive, or if your postal address has changed, let us know using this online form so we can send you a replacement.

The launch of the IFS report and other coverage of the FE fights back campaign shows a growing awareness of cuts to our sector, but we must stop low pay outright.

Voting YES is the best way to fight back.

Please post your vote as soon as you can.

Thank you

Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary