The six trade unions – ACM, ATL, GMB, UCU, UNISON, UNITE* –
representing 250,000 further education staff have today (30
January) submitted a pay claim for 6% or £1,500, whichever is the
greater. The catch-up claim covers FE workers in England
including lecturers, learning support staff, cleaners, managers,
caterers, librarians, security and lab technicians, and would
establish a £7.38 an hour minimum wage.
Last year many FE staff faced a double whammy when they were
awarded a below inflation pay deal, which some colleges then
failed to implement.
Christine Lewis, Joint Trade Union Side Secretary and UNISON
National Officer, said:
ÒCollege staff are part of a community of public service workers
who are entitled to a fair pay deal and they are determined to get
one. Further Education is the driver for the Government’s skills
agenda which is impossible to deliver if you have a low paid,
demoralised workforce.Ó
Barry Lovejoy, Joint Trade Union Side Secretary from UCU, said:
ÒWe want a better deal for FE staff which matches the rise in prices
and the contribution members make to our colleges. The
recommended award this year was well below inflation and an
effective pay cut for staff. This claim seeks to make up the shortfallÓ
The employer’s body, the Association of Colleges (AOC), makes a
recommendation to individual FE colleges on pay. In the past
there have been problems because a significant number of
colleges have chosen not to implement the agreed pay
recommendation. Some even failed to offer any annual increase.
*, University and College Union, UNISON, UNITE, GMB,
Association of Teachers and Lectures (ATL), and Association for
College Management (ACM)
ends
Notes to Editors
The FE pay deal for 2007/08 was 2.55% with a £500
underpinning. Made up of 2% on 1st August 2007 and further 1%
in February 2008. This is well below RPI which currently stands at
4%.
FE Lecturers in England are paid on average 6% less than
school teachers