As the ballot opens, we want here to make clear what your union is asking for:

Unite, UCU, GMB and EIS submitted the following key points of the national claim for this year’s new JNCHES negotiations.

• 5% increase to all spine points on the 51 point national pay scale
• agreed minimum rates of pay for roles within all occupational groups, including to the academic career pathways as detailed in the Model C to the 2004 agreement
• nationally-agreed minimum rates of pay for external examiners
• nationally-agreed action for institutions to close the gender pay gap by 2020
• nationally-agreed action for institutions to reduce the proportion of their staff on casual and zero-hour contracts and to ensure that their pay reflects the rate-for-the-job of permanent staff.
• To establish the Scottish sub-committee of new JNCHES as set out under the new JNCHES agreement.

The employers have so far only suggested:

• pay – 1% increase to all pay points on the national 51 point scale
• the potential of further joint work on gender pay
• the potential of further joint work in regards to casual and zero hours contracts
• no agreement on external examiner pay rates or minimum rates of pay for each occupational group.
• no agreement to set up a Scottish subcommittee of negotiating machinery.

Your ‘yes’ vote for both strike action and action short of a strike are crucial to he effective negotiation of these points.