College Staff in England Prepare for Strike Action Over Pay: A Detailed Overview
By Andy Giddings
West Midlands
Staff at 25 colleges across England are gearing up for a potential strike next week, citing concerns over pay and working conditions. The University and College Union (UCU) has announced that while some colleges have settled disputes with pay awards of up to 8.7%, others are still awaiting a resolution. The UCU is pushing for further meaningful bargaining to address these issues.
David Hughes, CEO of the Association of Colleges (AOC), expressed disappointment over the staff's decision to vote for strike action, emphasizing that students will bear the brunt of any disruption. If the strike proceeds, UCU members at the affected colleges will stage a walkout from Wednesday to Friday, culminating in a rally in Westminster on Friday.
Jo Grady, UCU's general secretary, explained that industrial action is a last resort for their members, but staff across England have been left with no other option. She highlighted the need for colleges to make fair offers to bridge the pay gap between school and college teachers.
The AOC, however, maintains its commitment to improving pay and conditions, suggesting that unions should direct their grievances towards the government to demand increased investment. The colleges where UCU members are planning to strike include:
- Abingdon & Witney College
- Bournemouth and Poole College of FE
- Capital City College
- Chesterfield College
- City College Norwich
- City of Bristol College
- City of Liverpool College
- City of Portsmouth College
- City of Wolverhampton College
- Hugh Baird College
- Isle of Wight College
- Kirklees College
- Lancaster and Morecambe College
- Loughborough College Group
- Morley College
- New College Swindon
- SK College Group
- South & City College
- South Bank Colleges
- Stanmore College
- The Sheffield College
- Truro & Penwith College
- Windsor Forest Colleges Group
- Wirral Met College
- Working Men's College
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