UCU's New Deal for FE campaign activities

Today (Friday 7 March) marks a busy day for further education activities across our union, as a UCU delegation consisting of myself, our president Maxine Looby and our head of further education Paul Bridge went to the Department of Education to present our New Deal for FE petition.

Today also sees the UCU submission to the cross-party inquiry into the further education (FE) sector being complete. This is of critical importance for us as the voice of the teaching profession in FE, to be a vital and proactive participant in what has the potential to be a once in a generation opportunity for the government to undertake a root and branch, evidence-led review on the parlous state of FE and adult and community education in England.

UCU college branches have already been invited to help reinforce our demands by holding local activities to coincide with the national submission today.

Thank you to the many branches that have requested the giant card petition props to to use for photo opportunities which can include:

• presenting the petition to your college principal or senior management team
• taking photos of staff and supporters holding up our 'I support a New Deal for FE' posters and giant card petition props
• holding a lunchtime meeting about the New Deal for FE campaign
• sharing campaign leaflets in your workplace.

Whatever it is you are able to do in your workplace today and over the coming weeks--it will have a big impact in helping to promote the campaign across the country. Please remember to take plenty of photos and share images on social media with #NewDealforFE or email them to the UCU campaigns team and we will help to promote across social channels.

Almost 6,000 supporters signed the petition calling for a New Deal with pay parity with schoolteachers, national bargaining and action on workloads; the petition is now closed. Thank you for all you have done to encourage people to sign the petition. The results of all your efforts demonstrate our voices loud and clear: we must have a new deal for FE now.

Look out for further updates on upcoming activities including an exciting UCU live and events to bring members and supporters together.

Save the date, Saturday 10 May

On 10 May, a national UCU demonstration will take place in central London. Please look out for more information over the coming weeks as this demonstration will bring members and supporters together across HE, FE, prison education, and adult and community education in order to make our demands across all sectors heard.

In solidarity

Jo Grady
UCU general secretary