Strike vote over pay falls short for second time

The latest ballot on whether university staff should strike in an ongoing row over pay has failed to reach the legal threshold for a second time.

Around 70,000 members of the University and College Union, which represents staff, were asked to strike over the offer of a 2 per cent pay rise from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association. 

Although 70 per cent of those who voted said yes to strike action, the turnout was only 41 per cent of the possible franchise and therefore failed to meet the 50 per cent threshold legally required for strike action to take place.