UCU: College lecturers to strike in London on Monday as employers fail to deliver on pay

College lecturers in London, members of the University and College Union (UCU), will take strike action on Monday (9 June). And further action across England may follow in September if employers don’t improve their latest pay offer.

The London lecturers will join a TUC lobby of MPs on Monday, in defence of public services.

Yesterday the college employers' association (Association of Colleges, AoC) failed to make an acceptable offer to the six further education unions who are seeking a 6% pay increase or £1500.

Employers offered a deal worth only 2.5% in cash terms, though couched as a 3% offer, but starting from 1st October not the 1st August as is normal. All six unions roundly rejected the offer as inadequate.

Barry Lovejoy head of further education at UCU said:

'This kind of offer is not going to meet our members' expectations and Monday's strike in London goes ahead. Employers wasted an opportunity to prevent this by failing to make a serious offer. And if employers do not significantly improve their offer they can expect more of the same in September - across England. College lecturers are providing high quality work, earning high satisfaction levels from students but watching the value of their pay diminish. It is already 6% less than schoolteachers' pay and the gap must be closed. '


ends

notes

1) The pay offer: Employers finally offered a revised pay offer of a 3% increase, but from 1 October not 1 August 2008, so the offer is worth only around 2.5% in cash.

2) On Wednesday (4 June) this week, college lecturers in England were involved in widespread protests at colleges, alongside colleagues from other college unions to highlight their case for improved pay. Many of the protests attracted student support. Several became parties and celebrations of solidarity. In London, a student band performed in support, while in York a protest highlighted the 'loss of the lunchbreak' an increasingly common concern as growing workloads pile pressures on lecturers: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3337

Note to picture editor:

On Monday 9 June many London lecturers will attend the TUC lobby of parliament 'Speak up for public services', with placards and banners. http://www.tuc.org.uk/theme/index.cfm?theme=speakup Lecturers from other regions are also sending representatives.

Contact:

Arrangements due to staff holidays:

Friday 6 June (and Sat 7th) UCU press officer Trevor Phillips 0207 520 1032, 07773 79688.
(8,9,10th June: UCU press officer Vicky Wilks: 020 7520 3207; 07970-383995)
(11 June until 22 June: UCU press officer Dan Ashley Dan Ashley: 07789 518 992)

Want additional support? The College and University Support Network (CUSN) offers UCU members a range of services - from factsheets to counselling. Access these services online http://cusn.info/ or through the 24/7 telephone support line, Freephone 08000 329952