“Have you voted yet?”

Unite members in universities across the country have been busy getting out the vote for strike action as the campaign to improve staff pay gathers steam.

Thousands of staff across 47 of the UK’s higher education institutions are currently being balloted for strike action after being offered an appalling real-terms pay cut by their employers.

The turnout from Unite members has been solid so far, but reps and activists in higher education branches are taking nothing for granted and working hard to encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Stéphanie Kasprowski, Unite Branch Secretary at the University of Bath explained why a Yes vote is vital, “Our pay rise this year is a meagre 1.4%, well below the rise in cost of living. On 1st August, our University increased our cost of parking to work, yes they charge us to come to work, by more than inflation.

“Bath is an expensive area to live in. What they give us with one hand, they take with the other. People commute from afar to come to work. Our employer is struggling to recruit people for many jobs because it’s expensive to live here, or they don’t pay enough for the skills they want. 

“We have had enough. It’s time for members to come together and send a clear message to the people at the top: pay us fair, we are the University and we are why it performs so well in the league table.”

Stéphanie Kasprowski recruiting members at the University of Bath

University staff are represented by a number of unions, and solidarity is strong with colleagues standing together against poor pay.

At Loughborough University Unite members joined colleagues from the University and College Union (UCU) and Unison in a demonstration of solidarity over ongoing pay disputes affecting staff. 

Mark Hyde, Branch Secretary at Loughborough University, highlighted the long-term impact of the pay settlement decisions. “Our members have faced more than a decade of below-inflation pay increases imposed by the National Employer Representative on Pay who is the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). 

“The latest offer represents yet another significant real terms pay cut for our members, undermining staff morale and their ability for our members to manage day-to-day expenses.”

Mark added that the show of union solidarity reflected widespread concern among staff about pay, workload and the sustainability of careers in higher education.

Solidarity at Loughborough University

In the North East Durham University branch secretary Greg Robson was leafleting staff with UCU workplace rep Arin Mizouri, and said, “Durham University prides itself on its collegiate system and collaborative work. Our campus unions are no different. We stand united together.” 

Greg Robson, DU Unite branch secretary and Arin Mizouri DUCU workplace rep. Photo – Victoria Greener

As well as leafleting Unite members have also been holding recruitment stalls to highlight the issues. These stalls have seen a lot of interest, and a rise in membership numbers as staff realise that the best way to stand up for better pay is to be organised in a union. 

Emily Perdue, Unite Branch Secretary explained that their branch ran a stall at the West Cambridge site of the University of Cambridge with the help of some Organisers and have been encouraging members to post their ballot papers in plenty of time.

Ballot stall at West Cambridge.

The ballot opened last month on 20 October and runs until 1 December, though the last safe day for posting is Tuesday 25 November. If successful, industrial action could take place throughout the first half of 2026.

Unite has produced a range of materials for members across higher education to help them get the message across that they will not stand for below inflation pay rises, and encourage colleagues to “Vote Yes!” in the ballot.

These materials, graphics and more can be found here.

By Keith Hatch

Photos by Unite HE Branch members