Fórsa’s ballot of members in library, professional management and support staff roles in the higher education sector has returned a vote of 85% of members balloted in favour of industrial action.

The ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, aims to secure a comprehensive job evaluation exercise for these members.

The purpose of job evaluation is to measure whether or not a specific post is correctly graded. It assesses the skills and responsibilities required of a particular post, rather than the individual performing it. Unions secured a commitment to the implementation of a job evaluation scheme under the Lansdowne Road Agreement in 2016.

Fórsa’s Education division has now appointed a disputes committee following the ballot result.

Further talks are expected to take place in August.