Further Education Pay

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Conference
2016 Local Government Service Group Conference
Date
26 February 2016
Decision
Carried

Conference welcomes the first ever national agreement for FE staff in Scotland and that we are moving towards new national bargaining through the establishment of a new National Joint Negotiating Committee in Scotland. Employers and trade unions have also committed to negotiate a new single pay structure and new single set of conditions of service for all staff; as well as attainment of official Living Wage accreditation of all Colleges by the end of 2016.

Conference also notes that in response to the threat of industrial action and political pressure, FE members in Wales all received a consolidated pay increase.

However Conference deplores the insulting recommendation by the colleges’ employer organisation, the Association of Colleges (AoC) of 0% and no commitment to the Living Wage for our FE members in England for 2015/16. This offer follows many years of FE members pay falling behind inflation.

Conference notes that members in FE have lost the equivalent of £3000 over the last five years, while at the same time having to deliver a service despite severe cuts, redundancies, reorganisations and increased workloads.

Conference further notes the clear signal from members in the summer consultation that they rejected this derisory ‘offer’ and congratulates members and activists in FE who have campaigned for pay justice in colleges.

Conference therefore calls on the Service Group Executive to:

1)Work with regions and branches to campaign for fair pay for FE with other unions and supportive organisations;

2)Work with regions and branches to campaign for all colleges to be accredited Living Wage employers;

3)Work to achieve national bargaining in England;

4)Prioritise building our organisation within FE to enable us to better influence outcomes on pay for members.