North East college group  CEO given vote of no confidence by staff 

Following a motion tabled at a quorate branch meeting, 86% of UCU members, voted to say they had lost confidence in the CEO and Group Principal of Education Training Collective (ETC), Grant Glendinning.  

The no confidence vote is the latest escalation in the long running dispute over the 22/23 pay award. It comes after staff previously took strike action having rejected ETC's previous offer which did not include any improvement on pay and was limited to an extra two "wellbeing days" and additional points on the lecturer and course leader pay scales, to take effect from Thursday 1 August 2024.  

Following the latest successful ballot in, ETC put forward a further offer, which proposed pay scale changes for support staff, which was overwhelmingly rejected by UCU members. ETC's position on pay remains that it wants staff to accept a paltry increase of just 3% for 22/23, with an additional 1% from May 2023. 

The union said it had no choice but to move to a no confidence vote given the breakdown in industrial relations at the college group.  

UCU regional support official, Chris Robinson said: "It is unfortunate that industrial relations have been degraded to such an extent that our members feel they have no option but to move to a motion of no confidence in the CEO and Group Principal, Grant Glendinning. This motion not only sets out staff dissatisfaction with the conduct and behaviour of the CEO and Group Principal, it also affirms UCU's commitment to resolving this dispute. UCU now calls on the ETC Governors to step in, show leadership and help prevent any further industrial action being taken in the next academic year."  

UCU's current mandate for strike action at ETC runs until 15th October 2024.