UCU wins pay deal for West Thames College staff

The college agreed in December 2022 to a 3% pay award for 2022/23, which was backdated to the start of term and paid in the December salary, but following further negotiations from UCU an extra 2% consolidated increase will now be paid and back dated to the start of term.

The union said this deal was won through effective and meaningful negotiation with West Thames College, following a strong mandate for strike action achieved in an earlier consultative e-ballot, and shows that there is money in the further education sector to help staff through the cost of living crisis.

UCU regional official Adam Lincoln said: 'This deal is the result of determined organising from our members at West Thames College. We are always willing to negotiate fairly with management and we thank the college leadership team for their serious engagement with UCU in negotiating this agreement. The deal we have reached shows exactly what can be achieved when our members stand together. Crucially, it shows yet again that there is no excuse for college employers elsewhere in London and across the country offering huge real-terms pay cuts and ignoring the severity of the cost of living crisis facing staff.'