UNISON has announced the result of its industrial action ballot in higher education (HE).
The union, which represents support staff in HE, balloted members on whether they were prepared to take strike action against the national employers’ pay offer of just 1% for 2012-13.
UNISON had also asked the employers to guarantee that no HE worker would be paid below the Living Wage (£8.30 in London and £7.20 outside London), but the employers failed to meet this demand.
The results of the ballot are:
- 3432 in favour of taking strike action (50.3% of those voting);
- 3385 against taking strike action (49.7% of those voting).
The higher education service group committee, the union’s national committee for members in HE, will consider next steps at a meeting on 11 October.
UNISON continues to work closely with the other unions in higher education, and those unions’ ballot results will be taken into account.