Union calls for AoC to review proposed pay offer

The University and College Union is delivering a Christmas card to the Association of Colleges protesting at a proposed pay offer the union described as “unacceptable”. Representatives from the union’s further education branches and general secretary, Sally Hunt, posed with a giant version of the “Scrooge” card which point out that the latest proposed pay increase of just 2.55% represents only a 38p increase in hourly pay for the average further education lecturer and does nothing to close the gap between school teachers and their further education colleagues.

UCU members are likely to be balloted in the New Year over whether or not to take strike action unless the employers increase their offer. Nearly half of all colleges have not brought in new pay scales agreed in 2003 and further education teaching staff still receive, on average, six per cent less pay than school teachers.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: “The employers have a golden opportunity to address the declining pay rates of staff in the further education sector, but chose to maintain their miserly approach to rewarding staff. Unless they now come back with a decent offer, staff will be balloted for industrial action.”

The card is part of the union’s campaign in further education to promote to values of education in the community. Visit http://www.ucu.org.uk/abetterdeal for more details.

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