College lecturers pledge industrial action campaign over pay
29 May 2008
College lecturers belonging to UCU have voted unanimously for more industrial action in June and the start of the next term if employers don't considerably improve their 2.5% pay offer.
UCU's further education congress, meeting in Manchester today, pledged England-wide protests on 4 June, a London-wide strike on 9 June and lobby of MPs, and two days of strike action in September.
Lecturers are claiming 6% or £1500 to make up for years of below-inflation awards and to close the pay gap with school teachers. The demand is part of a joint union claim for all college staff. College unions will be organising joint protests on 4 June.
Referring to wider discontent and mounting calls for action in public services, UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said public sector workers were determined to reclaim the respect they deserved.
UCU's head of further education, Barry Lovejoy said: 'The planned strike on 9 June is just a taster. Colleges will be closed for at least two days in September unless the employers see sense. Lecturers continue to provide an excellent service but with increasing workloads, threats to job security and continuing deplorable pay.'
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