Special FE sector conference recommends members accept pay offer

The conference recognised that the offer did fall significantly behind the 6% claim and the current rate of inflation , but felt it was the best that could be achieved in the present circumstances. It noted that all FE unions have agreed to accept the offer and given this it would be extremely unlikely that further industrial action by UCU in isolation would result in an improved offer.

The 3.2% offer remains one of the best in the public sector and followed two days of strike action by UCU and joint union protest action. However if accepted in the forthcoming ballot of members it is only one further stage in the continuing campaign to achieve pay parity with schoolteachers and pay awards that meet inflation.

Conference further agreed to instruct the FE committee of the national executive committee (FEC) to work with other FE trade unions and submit as early as possible a pay claim for next year including a minimum 6% or £2000 flat increase, parity with school teachers, £6,000 London weighting and to co-ordinate a national campaign including targeted industrial action in those colleges who have yet to implement the 2003/4 pay scales or fails to implement last years or this years settlement.