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York strike ballot fails due to low turnout

Though York did vote in favour

| UPDATED

There will not be a repeat of last academic year's staff strikes at the University of York this term as previously feared.

Despite staff at York voting in favour of strike action (66.2 per cent yes, 33.8 per cent no), the turnout was not high enough for the plans to go through.

This is due to the Trade Union Act which means that there must be a 50 per cent voter turnout of eligible union members in order for a vote to be valid. York's voter turnout was 44.9 per cent meaning that it did not meet the threshold.

Staff at the University of York went on strike last year, which led to a host of student activism. Heslington Hall was occupied while a petition was also launched to try to get the university to reimburse students' tuition fees.

The university eventually gave compensation in the form of paying for graduation gowns for the graduation ceremonies in July 2018 and January 2019.

However, students at both Uni of York and York St. John can relax as there will not be any further strike action this term as YSJ only had a 35.2 per cent turnout of eligible voters.