University workers demand a fightback after votes for strikes

UCU members are forced to battle the bosses—and their union leaders (Picture: Guy Smallman)

University workers have shown decisively that they want to keep on fighting. Results of the national ballot of tens of UCU members were released on Monday.

In a ballot on pay and conditions, 86 percent were for further action on a turnout of 56 percent. Over pensions, 89 percent backed strikes on a turnout of 58 percent.

This vote for action must be a rallying call for workers not to accept rotten deals or dodgy undemocratic consultations pushed by union leaders. It is proof that large numbers of workers still believe they can win, even when those at the top of the union don’t think so.

And the result can cut through what has been a confusing and draining few weeks for members. UCU leaders embroiled members in repeated consultations designed to break the momentum of strikes and strangle resistance.

It has become a hugely complex, confusing process that is alien to most people who don’t follow every twist and turn of the union’s inner workings.

It’s important to restate some basics. At present, the UCU is still in the section of unions that are resisting wage offers far below inflation.

The present offer would mean a 15 percent pay cut over two years. The bosses have made only vague promises about other issues. So whatever question they are asked, UCU members should vote to continue the battle.

The alternative to acceptance is to restart resistance with a marking and assessment boycott at a key time in the academic year, backed with strikes.

Carlo Morelli, co-president of Dundee UCU, told Socialist Worker that in his branch, “Members voted to start a marking and assessment boycott decisively.

“Overall I think that the willingness among workers to continue this dispute is still there. There are still large numbers of workers who actually don’t want to accept rubbish deals or even be consulted on them.”

Carlo added that the anger at the undemocratic way general secretary Jo Grady and her inner circle have run this dispute is mounting. “There’s still a lot of confusion among members. And lots of mixed messages were sent from the top.

“But I don’t think this is leading to disillusionment. Instead, anger is aimed at where members think bad decisions are being made.”

The calls for no confidence and censure against Grady are getting louder. At UCU Scotland Congress on Friday, a motion of no confidence in the general secretary was ruled out of the agenda.

There was a vote to put it back on the agenda—which the majority of those present backed. But it did not reach the two-thirds vote required to be discussed. There will be debates about Grady’s strategy and leadership at the union’s congress in May.

Such a reckoning matters. The key issue is to renew and build the struggle. But this fight must go hand in hand with building the democracy of the union and workers’ control and direct participation in decision-making.