Strike action called over FE workload dispute

Members are being called to prepare for strike action on 4 December in an effort to force ColegauCymru (CC) to return to negotations as they have so far refused to negotiate over workoad until the separate dispute over pay is resolved.

Margaret Phelan, UCU Wales official, said 'It is hoped that the pay dispute can be resolved by the Welsh government funding pay parity with school teachers but we still need to maintain the pressure on CC to return to the negotiating table over workload. The timeline on industrial action over workload reflects the date for industrial action agreed with other unions over the joint pay dispute.

'A special FE sector committee meeting on 17 November will decide on two more days of action to take place after 12 December if this remains necessary, to ensure that pay deductions happen in the January pay packet.

'The ballot paper indicated that further action would be considered if the dispute hadn't been resolved by 21 December so decisions about further action would be taken in January.'