{"id":1027,"date":"2025-09-11T13:23:22","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T13:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/?page_id=1027"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:59:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:59:33","slug":"faqs-on-ballot","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/crisis-at-uod\/faqs-on-ballot\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs on Ballot, September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion-controls\"><button class=\"accordion-open-all\" aria-expanded=\"false\">Open all <span class=\"visually-hidden\" aria-expanded=\"false\">sections<\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-d101a42c-2b80-4abe-861f-ecf1f61d71ed\" id=\"button-accordion-d101a42c-2b80-4abe-861f-ecf1f61d71ed\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">Why am I being balloted<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-d101a42c-2b80-4abe-861f-ecf1f61d71ed\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-d101a42c-2b80-4abe-861f-ecf1f61d71ed\">\n<p>Although compulsory redundancies were pushed back thanks to strong union action and government intervention, the University\u2019s latest recovery plan still includes significant job cuts. Financial risks remain, trust in leadership is low, and we must be ready to act quickly if further redundancies are proposed. A renewed mandate ensures we can continue to defend jobs, protect workloads, and fight for the future of the University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-dd3b0a3a-2271-48ea-b17c-79fd80dd060e\" id=\"button-accordion-dd3b0a3a-2271-48ea-b17c-79fd80dd060e\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">This is still over the same issue as when I was lasted asked to return a ballot paper in January 2025. Why do I have to vote again?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-dd3b0a3a-2271-48ea-b17c-79fd80dd060e\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-dd3b0a3a-2271-48ea-b17c-79fd80dd060e\">\n<p>Under UK law a mandate for industrial action is valid only for 6 months. Our last mandate ended on 29 July 2025, and that\u2019s why we haven\u2019t been able to call industrial action or engage in Action Short of Strike since then.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-d2bd4d31-5fbc-4ed1-ac8b-79c2b9878c0a\" id=\"button-accordion-d2bd4d31-5fbc-4ed1-ac8b-79c2b9878c0a\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What is the ballot timeline<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-d2bd4d31-5fbc-4ed1-ac8b-79c2b9878c0a\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-d2bd4d31-5fbc-4ed1-ac8b-79c2b9878c0a\">\n<p><strong>Ballot opens:<\/strong>&nbsp;Friday, 5 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Replacement ballot link opens:<\/strong>&nbsp;Friday, 12 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Last save posting date:<\/strong>&nbsp;Thursday, 2 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Ballot closes:<\/strong>&nbsp;Monday, 6 October 2025<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-5709b9f0-9a67-4d8d-bae8-122c13feee27\" id=\"button-accordion-5709b9f0-9a67-4d8d-bae8-122c13feee27\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">Why can&#8217;t I vote electronically\/online<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-5709b9f0-9a67-4d8d-bae8-122c13feee27\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-5709b9f0-9a67-4d8d-bae8-122c13feee27\">\n<p><strong>The law mandates that a ballot for industrial action must be conducted by post. It is therefore not possible to participate in the industrial action ballot electronically\/online.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The law also states that a ballot for industrial action must be supervised by a qualified independent scrutineer, usually Civica Election Services (CES). CES is responsible for the production, posting, and processing of ballot papers. UCU cannot by law produce, post, or process ballot papers. It is not possible for UCU or CES to send out a ballot paper electronically for you to print out at home or at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For further information please see \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/industrial-action-strikes\/holding-a-ballot\">Taking part in industrial action and strikes<\/a>\u2018 from the UK government website, as well as the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislation.gov.uk\/ukpga\/1992\/52\/part\/V\/crossheading\/requirement-of-ballot-before-action-by-trade-union\/2017-09-13?timeline=false\">Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 c. 52 s. 230<\/a>. You may also find this&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/The_TUC\/status\/1557666001902342146\">quick video explainer<\/a>&nbsp;from the TUC helpful.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-efda227c-8a52-42b9-8638-c1338457c184\" id=\"button-accordion-efda227c-8a52-42b9-8638-c1338457c184\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What does the ballot pack\/envelope look like?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-efda227c-8a52-42b9-8638-c1338457c184\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-efda227c-8a52-42b9-8638-c1338457c184\">\n<p>The ballot pack\/envelope should have the return address for Civica (Civica Election Services, CES) in the top left-hand corner. It may also carry the CES logo and UCU branding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"223\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/Picture1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/Picture1.png 320w, https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/59\/2025\/09\/Picture1-300x209.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The ballot pack will contain the ballot paper(s). The ballot pack will usually contain a second-class pre-paid return envelope. Members should use the ballot paper and put the ballot paper in the pre-paid return envelope, and then post that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.royalmail.com\/services-near-you#\/\">at the nearest post box or post office<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-a4ef35ab-de52-4383-9550-cb2378386282\" id=\"button-accordion-a4ef35ab-de52-4383-9550-cb2378386282\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What should I do if I have lost the pre-paid return envelope or if it is missing from the ballot pack?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-a4ef35ab-de52-4383-9550-cb2378386282\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-a4ef35ab-de52-4383-9550-cb2378386282\">\n<p>If you have misplaced the pre-paid envelope or the pre-paid envelope is missing from your ballot pack, you can put the ballot paper(s) into a blank envelope, write this address on the envelope \u2013\u00a0<strong>Civica Election Services, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 then affix a stamp, ideally first-class, and post it back. It is also possible to hand the ballot back in person at the above address.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-8819c354-7b75-4681-9dcf-fd23605c4dda\" id=\"button-accordion-8819c354-7b75-4681-9dcf-fd23605c4dda\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What question will appear on the ballot paper?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-8819c354-7b75-4681-9dcf-fd23605c4dda\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-8819c354-7b75-4681-9dcf-fd23605c4dda\">\n<p>Your ballot paper will have two questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Are you prepared to take industrial action consisting of strike action?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are you prepared to take industrial action consisting of action short of strike action (which for this purpose is defined to include overtime and call-out bans)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>We urge everyone to vote YES to all questions asked.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-de479775-bc22-4327-bb73-aec9201cad53\" id=\"button-accordion-de479775-bc22-4327-bb73-aec9201cad53\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">How should I mark my preference?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-de479775-bc22-4327-bb73-aec9201cad53\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-de479775-bc22-4327-bb73-aec9201cad53\">\n<p>Your ballot includes two simple \u2018Yes\/No\u2019 questions, mentioned above. You should write a\u00a0<strong>CROSS (X)<\/strong>\u00a0to indicate your preference on the ballot paper \u2013 for the avoidance of doubt,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucu.org.uk\/media\/13136\/Elections-cross-in-the-box-570x310-v2\/image\/Elections-cross-in-the-box-570x310_djyo3mzigbaj.jpg\"><strong>a CROSS (X) in a box looks like this<\/strong><\/a>. Using anything that is not a CROSS (X)\u2013for example a tick (V)\u2013means that Civica Election Services\u2019 scanning team will look at your ballot paper and make a judgment as to whether the vote is acceptable.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-db5d90cf-3e07-4f91-848c-ad1e60d560db\" id=\"button-accordion-db5d90cf-3e07-4f91-848c-ad1e60d560db\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What am I being asked if I have voted?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-db5d90cf-3e07-4f91-848c-ad1e60d560db\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-db5d90cf-3e07-4f91-848c-ad1e60d560db\">\n<p>Industrial action ballots are confidential and UCU does not know if an individual member has voted or which way that a member has voted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of our branches \u2018get the vote out\u2019 (GTVO) activities, we may ask you \u2013 via email, text message or door-knocking at your workplace \u2013 whether you have voted, so that we can target our GTVO with precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is always an enormous help to us&nbsp; if you volunteer this information (on whether you have voted, not how you have voted). This means there will be no need for us to remind you again (for instance via text or phone-banking).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-1627990a-1d40-423a-b2e1-70ec7003b487\" id=\"button-accordion-1627990a-1d40-423a-b2e1-70ec7003b487\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">I have note received my ballot pack. What should I do?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-1627990a-1d40-423a-b2e1-70ec7003b487\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-1627990a-1d40-423a-b2e1-70ec7003b487\">\n<p>If you do not receive your ballot pack by Friday, 12 September 2025, you can request a new ballot paper. The branch will be able to send you a link to request a new ballot. To use the replacement ballot request form, you need to use your unique UCU membership number which you can find by sending a blank email to\u00a0<strong>mynumber@mercury.ucu.org.uk<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:membership@ucu.org.uk\">email UCU\u2019s membership department<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-blocksy-child-accordion-item\"><div class=\"accordion-header\"><button class=\"accordion-button\" aria-controls=\"content-accordion-8640dd05-24ce-48a2-81d1-3fc43508a4e0\" id=\"button-accordion-8640dd05-24ce-48a2-81d1-3fc43508a4e0\"><span class=\"accordion-title extra\">What happens after the ballot, or what action will UCU members be called up to take?<\/span><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"17\" height=\"8\" stroke=\"#fff\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#4365e2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"3\" d=\"M.921.635 8.281 7.5l7.497-7\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><\/div><div class=\"accordion-content\" id=\"content-accordion-8640dd05-24ce-48a2-81d1-3fc43508a4e0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"button-accordion-8640dd05-24ce-48a2-81d1-3fc43508a4e0\">\n<p>Once the ballot closes and the results are announced, we will meet as a branch and discuss and vote on the next steps to take. You can get involved with this debate by attending the branch meeting, speaking to your colleagues or even proposing a motion about what next steps you think could be successful in increasing our leverage.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":718,"featured_media":0,"parent":675,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-sub-landing.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1027","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/718"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1027"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1151,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1027\/revisions\/1151"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/675"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dundee.ac.uk\/ducu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1027"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}