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Strikes off at 32 colleges with pay offers of up to
8.5%
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Strike rally being held at 12pm tomorrow in central
London
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New analysis shows sector receiving almost £1bn more
this year than in 2020
Staff at 11 colleges across England will be on picket lines
tomorrow morning as they begin three days of consecutive strike
action over low pay and poor working conditions, announced the
University and College Union (UCU) today (Monday) [NOTE 1].
The full days of strike action are:
- Tuesday 14 November
- Wednesday 15 November
- Thursday 16 November
UCU said it is very disappointed some hold out college bosses
have refused to give their staff the pay rise they deserve, given
the union has called off strike action at 32 colleges after
receiving pay offers at or above employer body, the Association
of College’s, recommended 6.5% [NOTE 2].
UCU general secretary Jo Grady and president-elect Maxine Looby
will be on picket lines at Capital City College in London on
Tuesday, Loughborough College on Wednesday, and Bolton College on
Thursday [NOTE 3].
Union members are also holding a rally tomorrow demanding respect
from college bosses. Speakers include UCU general secretary Jo
Grady and representatives from other further education unions.
The rally will begin at 12pm at the Emmanuel Centre, 9-23
Marsham Street, London SW1P 3DW.
A UCU survey of college staff
shows that almost all are struggling financially (96%) because of
low wages with four in five survey respondents saying their
financial situation is impacting their mental health (79%). It
shows many staff have to use foodbanks, as well as ration hot
water and heating because their pay is so low.
Government increases to English college funding mean the sector
is getting £3.4bn this
year, £924m more than it did three years ago (2019/20). One hold
out college, Craven, has seen its funding jump by 58% over the
past three years, to £8.7m. Principal pay across the sector
continues to soar. In 2021/22 the averageincrease in principal’s
pay was four times higher than that recommended for staff in that
year.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘Our members are being
forced to take three days of strike action because some college
bosses would rather see their staff use foodbanks than give them
a cost of living pay rise. New money from government has now
arrived and many colleges have done the right thing and raised
pay by at least 6.5%. The funding is there, where employers can
pay more, they should pay more.
‘Members have voted to stand down action at colleges that have
acted reasonably and tabled a decent pay offer. But where bosses
are hoarding money, instead of investing it in staff, we will not
shy away from striking.’
Notes
[1] Staff will be striking at the following
colleges on Tuesday 14, Wednesday 15, and Thursday 16
November:
- Bath College
- Bolton College
- Capital City College Group
- Craven College
- Croydon College
- Farnborough College of Technology
- Hugh Baird College
- Loughborough College
- Myerscough College
- Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group
- The Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
[2] Colleges where UCU has now settled its
dispute (College – pay award)
- Abingdon & Witney College - 6.5%
- Bournemouth & Poole College - 6.5%
- Brockenhurst College - 6.5%
- Burton and South Derbyshire College - 6.6%
- Bury College
- 8.5%
- Calderdale College - 6.5%
- Cambridge Regional College (Camre) - 7%
- Cheshire College - 6.5%
- City of Bristol College - 6.5%
- City of Liverpool College – 6.5%
- City of Wolverhampton College, - 6.5%
- Dudley College -6.5%
- Ealing, Hammersmith & West London College –
7.1% (up to £43k) to 6.7% (£43k-60k) London
- East Durham College - 6.5%
- Exeter College - 6.5%
- Furness College – 6.5%
- Gloucestershire College - 6.5%
- Isle of Wight College - 6.5%
- Leeds College of Building - 7%
- Middlesborough College - 6.5%
- New College Swindon - 6.5% + 2% non-consolidated
- Nottingham College – an award worth 6.5%-7.36% for
typical UCU members
- Petroc - 6.5%
- Plymouth College - 6.5%
- Runshaw College - 7.52%
- South Thames Colleges Group - an award worth 7.09% for the
typical UCU member
- Stoke on Trent College - 7%
- Warrington & Vale Royal College - 6.5%
- Wiltshire College - 6.5%
- Windsor Forest Colleges Group - 6.5%
- Yeovil College - 6.5%
Colleges where strike action has been suspended whilst UCU
members are consulted on pay offers (College – pay offer):
- Weymouth College - 6.5%
[3] Please email press@ucu.org.uk for
local picket info.
