Employers have been quick to rubbish the potential impact of the Association of University Teachers' industrial action, citing that the union represents only about 13 per cent of the 320,000 staff in higher education and that six of the seven higher education unions have voted to adopt the new pay framework or are working towards acceptance. But the turnout for the AUT's ballot, at 54 per cent, was far higher than that for unions that have accepted the deal, which was as low as 17 per cent in one union. It means that more workers have voted against the pay offer - about 18,000 - than in its favour.