With UCEA remaining intransigent UCU is regrettably compelled to seek a mandate for a further period of industrial action. If our negotiators are to have any hope of matching the success of the battle for pensions, that mandate is vital.

Restrictive trade union laws mean that a ballot of members MUST achieve a participation rate of 50% for the vote to be valid. Whatever your views then, your participation in the ballot is therefore crucial if the will of you and your colleagues is to be heard. Please make your views known by returning your ballot paper.

Here is a summary of the key dates and events: 

• Tuesday 19 September (18:30): ballot-eve UCU Live, watch on YouTube, Facebook or Twitter
• Wednesday 20 September: the day that your postal ballot will start arriving. Make sure that you vote YES as soon as you receive yours
• Friday 29 September (09:00): replacement ballot request form opens; if you have not received your ballot by this point then you can order a replacement
• Friday 27 October (12:00 noon): deadline for new higher education members to join UCU and be automatically included in the ballot. Make sure that you have spoken to all of your colleagues who are not yet in the union and get them signed up before this date
• Sunday 29 October (23:59): replacement ballot request form closes
• Tuesday 31 October: last safe date to return the ballot by post. Don’t leave it until the last minute, make sure that you vote as soon as you receive your ballot
• Friday 3 November 2023 (17:00): industrial action ballot closes.