30 NOV 2023
UCU Agrees New Pay Deals At 24 Colleges
In recent developments, the University and College Union (UCU) has successfully negotiated pay raises at 24 additional colleges across the UK. This marks a significant step in addressing staff pay concerns in the further education sector.
Highlights of the Pay Deals:
Bolton College: Achieved a 7% pay increase and a commitment not to deduct pay for strike action.
Tameside College and South Staffordshire College: Secured a substantial 10% and 9.5% pay rise, respectively.
Overall Progress: These agreements follow on the heels of 33 earlier settlements for the 2023/24 academic year, with seven colleges calling off strikes after resolving pay disputes.
Widespread Negotiations: UCU had balloted members at 90 colleges in September, leading to 30 voting for strike action
Continuing Challenges: Despite these successes, seven colleges remain in dispute over pay, including notable institutions like Capital City College Group and Croydon College.
UCU's Stance: The UCU general secretary highlighted the importance of these pay awards in helping staff cope with the cost-of-living crisis and emphasised the union's commitment to fair pay and manageable workloads.
The UCU continues to push for better pay and conditions, with the expectation that the remaining colleges will return to negotiations to prevent further strike actions.
These latest agreements represent a crucial step in addressing pay disparities in the further education sector, reflecting the union's ongoing efforts to ensure fair compensation for college staff amidst economic challenges.