Created on: 20 Oct 2025
EIS ULA has opened a statutory ballot of its members for strike action over university employers failing to improve their full and final pay offer, which was tabled earlier this year.
The EIS has opened this ballot after the results of their recent consultative ballot saw members overwhelmingly reject the full and final pay offer made by the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) and vote in favour of taking strike action to pursue an improved pay uplift.
UCU, UNISON and UNITE are also set to open statutory ballots on the joint national pay dispute with UCEA. The EIS ULA ballot will remain open for almost six weeks, closing on Friday 28th November.
The offer from UCEA, of 1.4% on all national pay grades and which has been imposed in some institutions already, represents a real term wage cut of 3% to staff who have endured years of sub inflationary pay impositions as well as seeing their household bills and everyday costs increase through rising inflation.
Garry Ross, EIS National Officer for Higher Education said "1.4% is a pitiful pay offer and fails to reflect the expertise and dedication of staff who, without them, universities could not operate.
"Employers have taken their staff for granted for too long, evidenced by years of eroded salaries whilst some institutions continue to make multi-million pound surpluses and hold significant reserves. All we are asking for is a fair, cost-of-living pay uplift to help staff pay their bills and mitigate rising inflation."
He added "Our members continue to deliver high quality education and research opportunities to students from Scotland and around the world, working harder than ever under an increasing workload and constrained resources.
"Yet, they are expected to accept another real-terms pay cut. Staff throughout higher education have had enough. They feel undervalued and underappreciated by their university senior management, which has resulted in the EIS ULA moving forward with a statutory ballot for strike action."
Members of EIS FELA (Further Education Lecturers’ Association) received a 4.14% pay uplift on the 1st September this year, a significant increase in percentage than their colleagues in the higher education sector.
EIS teacher members in Scotland have previously rejected a 4% pay uplift. NHS and other public sector workers have also received more favourable pay awards this year, recognising their value and assisting them with the cost-of-living increases they are experiencing.
The EIS ULA, along with the other trade unions, is committed to achieving a pay award which addresses the financial pressures staff are facing and recognises the vital role they carry out, ensuring that students in universities receive the high quality education and research opportunities they expect.
The EIS ULA urges employers to return to the negotiating table with a significantly improved pay offer to avert widespread disruption across Scottish universities.