We can now confirm the results of our local consultative ballot.

• Turnout – 66%

• 92% voted Yes for strikes

• 8% voted No

Membership numbers have recently grown to their highest ever level, making this the biggest Napier turnout on record. What makes this turnout all the more significant is that our consultative ballot was open for only a 10 day period (approximately half the normal time allocated). This tremendous result is a crushing indictment of University leaders’ redundancy proposals. It also sends a strong message to the employer that you and your colleagues are willing to take action together in defence of jobs.

Whilst we have successfully concluded our consultative ballot, it is important to note that we do not yet have a legal mandate to strike. To achieve a legal mandate, it is necessary for us to conduct a statutory ballot. 

Like many trade unions, the EIS often conducts consultative ballots in advance of moving to a statutory ballot. This is because statutory ballot results must be shared with the employer. You and your colleagues want to be confident that we can achieve a mandate at the statutory level. Statutory ballots must take place by postal vote. The opening and closing dates will be shared as soon as possible.

You and your colleagues can win. The HE sector is in crisis. However, trade union members at other universities (Dundee, Liverpool Hope, Newcastle, Sheffield and elsewhere) have recently taken industrial action (or in some cases simply threatened industrial action) and have forced management into U-turns. Just over two weeks ago, EIS-ULA members at the University of the West of Scotland won a commitment to no compulsory redundancies from their employer. You and your colleagues can repeat those successes, defend jobs and send a message across the sector by voting in our statutory ballots.