Staff at 27 colleges could be asked once again if they would back strike action as the University and College Union (UCU) prepares to reissue strike ballots.

In the results from the recent ballot, which closed earlier this month, UCU members at 108 out of 110 college branches backed strike action. However, only six of these colleges met the 50 per cent turnout threshold set by the government to make strike action legal.

At Friday’s meeting of the UCU FE committee, members decided they would now consult with branches where the turnout threshold was above 35 per cent (but below 50 per cent), and decide whether or not to reissue strike ballots here. This puts 27 colleges in the scope to vote for strike action.

Pay protest

The Trade Union Act 2016, which came into force last year, means that for strike action to be legal, 50 per cent of union members in a college have to vote in a ballot, with a majority voting in favour of strike action.

In their 2018-19 pay claim, the unions representing college employees have asked for a pay rise of 5 per cent, or a fixed increase of £1,500 for staff earning less than £30,000 per year.

Turnout in the first UCU ballot across the country was 31 per cent, ruling out national strike action at this stage. However, not all colleges were balloted. As the ballot was disaggregated, branches that met the 50 per cent threshold can take strike action on a college-by-college basis. This threshold was only met by six UCU branches: Bath College, Bradford College, Croydon College, Lambeth College, New College Swindon and Petroc.

Colleges that could be reballoted

• Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College: 49.60% turnout
• Havering College: 48.80%
• Bridgwater and Taunton College: 47.90%
• Wiltshire College: 46.60%
• East Sussex College Group: 45.30%
• Wirral Metropolitan College: 45.30%
• Strode College: 44.90%
• Harlow College: 44.70%
• West Thames College: 43.80%
• City College Plymouth: 43.70%
• Bury College: 43.10%
• City of Wolverhampton College: 42.90%
• City of Bristol College: 42.70%
• Coventry College: 42.60%
• Nottingham College: 42.60%
• Morley College: 41.60%
• South & City College Birmingham and Bournville College: 40.70%
• The Trafford College Group: 40.60%
• East Riding College: 38.70%
• Richmond Upon Thames College: 38.20%
• Hugh Baird College: 37.70%
• Kendal College: 36.90%
• City Lit: 36.70%
• South Thames College Group: 36.20%
• Leicester College: 35.50%
• Brooksby Melton College: 35.40%