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Pay dispute resolved at Lewisham and Southwark colleges

A pay dispute between the University and College Union (UCU) and Lewisham and Southwark colleges – part of the NCG group of colleges – has been resolved.

Staff working at the London colleges will receive a pay rise of £350 (pro rata for part-time staff) and NCG has agreed to change the way it calculates strike pay deductions in the future.

Staff took a total of four days’ strike action in May and September this year. NCG originally deducted 1/260th of members’ annual salary, but has now agreed to take just 1/365th in future and repay the difference on previous deductions.

Both sides said they are committed to reviewing incremental pay progression to improve consistency at all NCG colleges. Employees in Carlisle, Kidderminster and Lancashire currently receive the incremental pay progression, but those in Newcastle or London don’t.

UCU regional official Iain Owens said: ‘UCU members at Lewisham and Southwark colleges have accepted the new package on offer and we now want to work with NCG to get them onto the pay progression system enjoyed by NCG employees elsewhere in the country.’

Chris Payne, interim chief executive of NCG, said: ‘We’re pleased to have found a solution to this issue and we’re committed to further developing the long term relationship with our trade union partners.’


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