On Monday 18th October 2021, UCU began balloting its members across 152 higher education institutions in the UK on “Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pensions, declining pay, the use of insecure contracts in the sector, unsafe workloads and serious equality failings“. The ballots will run until 2nd November 2021.
We are joined in conversation by Syahadah (Pause or Pay UK student organiser), Tanya Serisier (Chair Birkbeck UCU), and Mario Prost (Vice President Keele UCU) for a special edition kitchen-table chat as part of the The Care Mixtape series.
Together we break down the history that underpins the current ballot, The Four Fights (equality failings, casualisation and job insecurity, rising workloads, and declining pay) and the reality of the cuts to pensions, unrecognised and unpaid labour, the “violence of the status quo”, and why “we need a better normal” for staff and students combined in the pathway going forward.
Visit the links to find out more information about the proposed period of industrial action and getting the vote out. If you’re a member of UCU and haven’t received your ballot papers yet, remember to double check your contact details and order a replacement. No matter the next stages, remember our collective voice is indicative of our strength as a union and it is key for future negotiations, so please give your branch the mandate by voting Yes!
With thanks to UCU for the #GettingTheVoteOut resources
Read and Resist! 