Industrial action imminent as UCU vote in favour

by Jamie Jubon

University College Union (UCU) members have voted in favour of industrial action at University of the Arts London (UAL), with a four to one majority.

The union’s secretary at UAL, Ron Todd, sent an email to all of its members on Tuesday May 18, which also showed 68 per cent were in favour of strike action.

“It is a strong mandate for action and an endorsement of UCU’s demands in the current dispute" said a statement released by the UCU.

“Management at UAL have continued with a series of course closures and reorganisations without due or sensible regard to the views and concerns of staff and students.”

208 members in favour

Of the 307 members balloted, 208 voted in favour of a strike, and in a separate poll asking whether they would be prepared to take industrial action short of a strike, 250 were in favour.

The dispute is over the loss of around 100 academic jobs, with the notification of more to come, the union claims.

This is despite the fact that UAL's Rector Nigel Carrington made a statement in April 2009 where he made it clear that “compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.”

The UCU statement also said: “This ballot result demonstrates the strength of feeling against management’s failure to address our concerns or to negotiate a sensible and lasting resolution to the dispute.

“Hopefully, in the light of this result, management will now realise that they cannot continue imposing cuts and reorganisation without full and meaningful consultation and negotiation with UCU and the other trade unions.”

Prior to the results of the ballot, Carrington said: "If UCU members gain a majority vote and take industrial action, this will regrettably lead to the disruption of student learning and access to facilities across the University. There may be a day, or a series of days, when staff taking action will not be undertaking their normal duties."

Carrington also told students that the impact of potential action will affect students differently, depending on their college and course.

No official date has yet been set for any possible strike action, however the UCU had previously claimed a strike would be confirmed in the near future if members voted in favour.