Take a stand on pay

Meanwhile Richard Atkins, the government appointed further education commissioner said that "the level by which some colleges' staff pay has fallen behind [schools] is quite remarkable." 

UCU welcomes this recognition that pay in colleges is slipping further and further behind but, colleges must do much more to address the problem.

In a series of national negotiations with UCU the college employers have failed to offer a serious response to this plight other than to encourage UCU to campaign even harder for more government funding.

We are glad that colleges have recognised the need to campaign against funding cuts. We have been highlighting the damage done to colleges by annual budget cuts year after year - and we are 100% behind the forthcoming lobby of parliament called by UCU and other sector bodies. 

We have also made it clear that colleges cannot simply hide behind funding cuts - they must do more to protect staff pay and conditions. The record shows that time after time it has taken the threat of industrial action by UCU members to persuade colleges - who initially say they can do nothing - to do better by their staff. That is why there is currently a ballot of UCU members which seeks your support to take action. 

Your vote will have arrived in the post in an envelope like this:



The law says that we need at least 50% of eligible members to take part, otherwise even if members vote for strikes, we cannot take any action. If you have not voted already, please do so and if you have voted, encourage others to vote too.

Employers and politicians are starting to listen to our case. Whether you work at a big or small college, it is therefore vital that we achieve a united voice - we need your vote.

UCU is taking a stand for staff on pay. If you support the stand we are taking, please vote in the ballot. 

Sally Hunt
UCU general secretary