amalgamated on 1 June 2006, and then entered a transitional year until full operational unity is achieved in June 2007. The new union is called the University and College Union (UCU). 2006 AUT and NATFHE industrial action In 2006 AUT and NATFHE engaged in industrial dispute with Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) over pay. AUT and NATFHE claimed that UCEA promised that one third of the extra income from top up fees would be spent on pay and their 2006 pay claim was based on this. UCEA's initial response was "that it is very likely that a significant proportion of the HE sectors new income will be spent on improvements in staff pay and conditions, but that HEIs had never given a commitment". AUT and NATFHE both voted for strike action and carried out a one-day stoppage on 8 March. From 9 March to 6 June they boycotted the marking of exams and coursework, with the AUT (but not NATFHE) also boycotting the setting of exams and they rejected an offer of 12.6% over three years which was made on 8 May and a further offer of 13.12% over three years made on 30 May. Concerns grew that students might not be able to graduate in 2006 until the industrial action was suspended at midnight on 7 June while members were balloted on a new offer. List of General Secretaries Note that initially AUT in its early days was very much an amateur organisation and only appointed a full-time secretary in 1959, who gained the title of General Secretary in 1965. Honorary General Secretary 1919: Francis Raleigh Batt (secretary) 1920: Robert Douglas Laurie 1953: Lord Chorley General Secretaries 1965: Kenneth Urwin (executive secretary 1959-1965) 1969: Laurie Sapper 1983: Diana Warwick 1993: David Triesman 2001: Paul Cotterill (acting general secretary) 2002: Sally Hunt References Joint AUT-NATFHE press release on merger ballot result Key Profession. The History of the Association of University Teachers, Harold Perkin, New York, 1969. Covers the history from the founding through to 1969. The Crisis Years, The History of the Association of University Teachers from 1969 to 1983, Geoffrey Stuttard, London, 1992. Boycott AUT boycott of Israeli universities (2005) - News and other Articles Haaretz BBC The Guardian The Jerusalem Post The Times Editorial: Blinkered and ill-timed: The AUT boycott of Israeli universities is inimical to academic freedom, 25 April 2005 The Guardian: Academics vote against Israeli