It will not have escaped your notice that UCU is currently balloting for strike action – you will have received a good number of emails from HQ about it. University of Leeds UCU branch want to emphasise the vital importance of us being able to exercise our right to strike action. In order for that to happen, members need to exercise the democratic right to vote.

This ballot, unlike previous ballots, is aggregated. What that means is that rather than operating branch by branch we are balloting as a whole HE sector. If 50% of members across the HE sector vote and if a majority of those who vote, vote for strike action we will be able to take action across the entire sector – a major escalation. In addition you may have noted that our sister union Unison have had run a further ballot and gained 65% turnout in a very strong mandate for strike action. Unite, the third union recognised at Leeds, are also discussing whether to ballot .Given the level of industrial action we are seeing across the country: amongst postal workers, rail workers, criminal barristers and ballots across many other sectors  – this is our chance to show that we mean business. 

If you haven’t yet received your ballot papers then you can request a replacement at https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/ucuRISING-ballotupdate – don’t wait, it’s better to have two than none! If you are away from home then you can ask for your ballot papers to be sent to your temporary address so that you can get your vote into the post ASAP.

Don’t forget to record that you have voted (same link: https://yoursay.ucu.org.uk/s3/ucuRISING-ballotupdate) – reporting now should mean that you don’t get multiple personal reminders to vote.

Please note that Tuesday 18 October is the last ‘safe’ posting date. See https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/12469/FAQs for UCU ballot FAQs