Further education

Pay campaign: employers to make early offer

(31/03/08) Further education unions in England have negotiated a key change to this year’s timetable for pay talks.

It will see the employers’ body (the AoC) making an earlier than expected pay offer – on 1 May rather than 5 June.

This is welcome news and gives the unions more time to push for a decent pay deal.

Our claim calls for 6% or £1,500 - whichever is the greater.

On a related note, UCU has announced it is balloting for industrial action over this year’s pay claim in England, to coincide with the proposed NUT teachers strike on 24 April.

UNISON’s position (and that of the other recognised FE unions) is to wait for the outcome of the NJF meeting with employers on 1 May before deciding on potential action.

We need to have a pay offer on the table, or a refusal to make an offer, before we lodge a dispute.

We are working hard with our colleagues in UCU and the other unions to build our pay campaign in the run up to the meeting.

Finally please remember to order copies of the new FE pay campaign leaflet (stock number is 2659). The leaflet can also be downloaded here.