Staff at Hull College to be balloted for strike action

The college management had offered staff a 0.7% pay rise last September, and also pledged to make positive changes to the lesson observation process which had been heavily criticised by teachers at the college.

Six months later, however, the expected pay rise has not materialised and staff have complained that the lesson observation system is leaving them more stressed and anxious than ever. The union says that college management has not listened to genuine concerns raised by staff and there has been no attempt to make improvements to the observation system within the academic year. 

The ballot will open next Thursday (7 April) and close on Friday 22 April.

UCU regional official, Julie Kelley, said: 'Staff were given false hope and promises that have failed to materialise. Six months on, it is clear they were placated with warm words and are now finding their working lives more stressful than ever.

'We call on the college to pay the 0.7% previously offered and to immediately suspend the observation system until we can get round the table and agree positive changes to it. We very much want to see this resolved - strike action is the absolute last resort for our members.'