The University and College Union (UCU) and UNISON have today
welcomed a U-turn from the Association of Colleges (AoC) over pay
talks for staff in further education. At the start of the month the
AoC said that it would not discuss a pay claim for 2018/19 while
UCU members were still in dispute at some colleges.
That threat prompted unions who represent staff in colleges to
write to the AoC saying that a refusal to discuss the pay claim
was an “unnecessary provocation” and warned the AoC that it
risked undermining its “credibility and relevance to the sector”
if it would not talk with the unions.
The AoC has now said it will receive the 2018/19 pay claim from
the unions.
UNISON head of education Jon Richards said: “It’s in the best
interest of the further education sector as a whole that the pay
negotiations continue.
“Hardworking support staff haven’t had a decent pay rise for
years. The government and employers need to tackle the crippling
cuts and low pay that’s sapping the morale of workers. Further
education must be funded properly, for the benefit of students
everywhere.”
UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “We are pleased the AoC
has reversed its decision and will now accept the unions’ pay
claim. We always think the best place to resolve any issue is at
the negotiating table. It is time for them to come to the table
with a decent pay offer for staff who have seen their pay held
down for too long.”
