Pay dispute ends at London colleges as staff accept “landmark” 5% deal

• Landmark pay deal delivers 5% increase for over 1,700 staff at three London colleges
• University and College Union members took eight days of strikes earlier this year
• News of deal comes days before UCU members at other colleges begin strikes over pay

Staff at three London colleges that make up the Capital City College Group (CCCG) have voted to accept a new pay deal worth 5%. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at City & Islington College, College of Haringey Enfield & North East London and Westminster Kingsway College had taken eight days of strike action between February and May.

The pay award for the 2018/19 academic year is worth around £140 a month extra and will be backdated to September in staff’s December pay packets. The deal ensures that the lowest paid staff will receive the biggest increase. The new CCCG chief executive Roy O’Shaughnessy has waived his right to an annual bonus.

The news of the landmark pay deal comes a week before UCU members at six colleges across England will take two days of strikes in their fight for fair pay and ballots open at another 26 English colleges. The union said the deal set the bar for other colleges when it comes to the pay and conditions of staff.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell sent his congratulations to UCU members on their “brilliant victory”. He said the deal was an important step in ensuring staff are valued for the “vital work they do”.

UCU head of policy and campaigns Matt Waddup said: ‘This landmark pay increase, agreed at one of the largest college groups in England, sets the bar for others when it comes to the pay and conditions of staff.

‘Too often colleges hide behind low levels of government investment to avoid giving their staff a fair pay deal. This settlement will be greeted positively by UCU members around the country, including the six colleges out on strike next week and the other 26 institutions where strike ballots are opening.’

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: ‘Congratulations to UCU members at CCCG. This is a brilliant victory by your members. Staff working in further education are amongst the lowest paid in the education sector.

‘This award, alongside the fractionalisation agreement is an important step in ensuring staff are valued for the vital work they do. Congratulations to the governing body in agreeing this bold and progressive step forward and I hope this signals a change in direction that the whole sector can follow.’

The deal includes:

• 5% to staff who earn less than £55,000
• Senior managers that earn between £55,000 and £76,000 will be awarded 3%
• Those earning above £76,000 will not get a pay increase this year
• No pay deducted from UCU members for two of the days they took strike action