College lecturers to be balloted on improved pay offer

UCU's further education committee, has decided to put the latest pay offer made by employers, the Association of Colleges, to members in further education for them to decide if it is acceptable.

The offer is a two-stage pay deal: lecturers would be paid 2% from 1 August 2006 and get a further 1% from 1 February 2007, resulting in an increase on all pay scale points of 3% by February 2007.

The offer is an improvement on three previous offers for 2006/7, the lowest of which was 1.5%. It would recoup the 0.4% shortfall with schoolteachers' pay award for this academic year (2005/6) and keeps pace with their increase for the next academic year (2006/7).

It also includes a firmer recommendation from the Association of Colleges to urge colleges to enter talks with trade unions on the full implementation of a crucial previous pay deal (2003/5) by the end of March 2007.

UCU - then NATFHE - had submitted a pay claim of 7% for 2006/7 to address the shortfall with teachers' salaries. Union negotiators felt the latest offer was the best that could be achieved through talks. The alternative to accepting it will be to continue industrial action. Members last took action in November 2005 over their pay claim for 2005/6. See notes to editors.

Barry Lovejoy, UCU head of colleges, said: 'There have been some hard negotiations since the initial 1.5% derisory offer in March. We are now pleased to be in a position to put an offer to members for their consideration.'

The ballot will open on 29 June and close on 14 July. The result will be announced on 14 July.