The University and College Union faces a “make or break” moment, with the vote for sector-wide strike action showing that many UK higher education workers are “at the end of their tether”, but experts have cautioned that the disputes over pay and pensions are likely to be “bitter and drawn out” with success far from guaranteed.
In results announced this week the union comfortably passed the 50 per cent turnout threshold that is legally required for industrial action in most of the UK, with more than eight in 10 of those polled in two separate ballots supporting walking out.
In total, more than 70,000 staff at 150 universities were balloted, meaning disruption could affect millions of students’ education.
