FE lecturers strike over 3% pay offer

NEU members at Havant and South Downs College (HSDC) in Hampshire took strike action on 22 and 23 February in a dispute over pay.

They joined members of the University College Union (UCU) after receiving a pay offer which amounted to just three per cent for most college lecturers, plus a one-off

News in brief

89% vote Yes in sixth form college strike re-ballot

NEU members in sixth form colleges have voted Yes in a re-ballot to take industrial action to win an acceptable, fully funded pay rise for 2022/23.

An overwhelming 89 per cent voted Yes on a turnout of 53.3 per cent.

The formal trade dispute is with the Secretary of State for Education due to a failure to make available additional funding to allow sixth form college employers to pay a fully funded, aboveinflation increase to teachers with effect from 1 September 2022.

Sixth form college teachers have seen a 20 per cent cut in real-terms pay since 2010. The September 2022 pay offer would see the majority of teachers receive a five per cent pay award, rising to 8.9 per cent for a small minority.

payment of £400 for most staff. The offer follows a decade of below-inflation pay increases at the college.

NEU rep John Rogers said: “This year’s pay offer, coming during a time of high inflation and a cost-of-living crisis, represents a huge real-terms pay cut. This continues what has been a relentless year-on-year attack on

NEU teachers in 74 sixth form colleges will take strike action on 27 April and 2 May alongside school teacher members.

Kevin Courtney, NEU joint general secretary, said: “The sector has suffered real-terms pay cuts in the region of 20 per cent since 2010. Further belowinflation pay increases are simply unacceptable to our members.

“Strike action is always taken with great regret, but the sentiment of this ballot result is clear: enough is enough.”

FSM for all conference MPs, local authorities, charities, medical bodies, faith leaders and unions came together at NEU HQ in London on 24 March to discuss policy and strategies for winning free school meals for all teaching and support staff pay and conditions. Throughout this time, we have constantly been told a pay rise which would match inflation is unaffordable.

“The situation is unsustainable and for this reason NEU members at Havant and South Downs have voted to take action. Enough is enough.” children in primary education. Joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “Children are coming to school hungry and it’s getting worse. This is a crisis and it needs action now.” n Visit freeschoolmealsforall.org.uk

30 days of action as sixth form staff told to work Saturdays

MORE than 100 members at Newham

Sixth Form College in east London plan to strike for 30 days over the summer term following arbitrary changes to their contracts.

Changes include compelling staff to work on Saturdays.

Staff, who took five days of action in March, are also furious that the college has broken an agreement that staff can be accompanied by their union rep during disciplinary investigations.

Beyond Ofsted survey

NEU-funded researchers are inviting education professionals to take part in an inquiry looking at school inspection in England: beyondofsted.org.uk