Lecturers at Craven College vote to strike over pay cut

UCU today announced the results of its ballot of members, which produced an overwhelming majority in favour of strike action and action 'short of a strike'. UCU members at the college will take strike action from 15 October, followed by a campaign of action short of a strike from the following day if forthcoming local negotiations do not produce a positive outcome

Talks took place today (3 October) between the union and the college management, and more are scheduled for next Wednesday (10 October).

Craven College is the only college in Yorkshire & Humberside which has not paid any cost of living pay award for 2006/2007. A national award was agreed between UCU and the college employers' association, the Association of Colleges (AoC). This means that lecturers at the college worked throughout 2006-07 for less than during 2005-06, as inflation ate into their pay.

Craven College is also one of the minority that has failed to implement the 2004 modernising pay agreement for Further Education Colleges.

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: 'We are pleased that the college have finally agreed to talks on resolving this dispute. Today's talks were constructive and the Principal is considering the union's position. There will be a further meeting next Wednesday to continue negotiations. Nothing has changed and we will not be calling off the strike action unless the negotiations produce a reasonable offer for UCU members to consider.

'We genuinely hope this meeting can lead to a positive outcome and any disruption to students can be averted by college management. If every other college in Yorkshire managed to pay a cost of living pay award 2006/7 some with severe financial difficulties, then Craven College can as well. This is a significant majority in favour of industrial action and a clear endorsement of the stand taken by the local UCU branch at the college. Craven College staff have never previously balloted for strike action except as part of a national ballot, so this shows how strongly staff feel by what they believe is the unfair position of the college.'

Iain Taylor, local UCU branch chair, added: 'We are hopeful we can now make some progress otherwise lecturers will commence a campaign of strike action from 15 October and I hope all of the local community who appreciate the college will stand alongside the lecturers. The people of Skipton have first rate lecturers serving them and they understand fairness. I am sure they won't accept that local lecturers should be paid less than elsewhere. The college management is responsible for the disruption which will follow if it does not agree the pay award that is owed for last year.'

The ballot result

63 lecturers voted on each option (strike action and action short of a strike )

Results:
In favour of strike action: Voting YES 50, Voting NO 13.
Action short of a strike: Voting YES 57, Voting NO 6.

NB: This ballot and controversy should NOT be confused with any matters concerning the 2007-8 pay offer by the AoC which is still under consideration nationally by UCU. No settlement has been agreed.