UCU strike action: FE fights back

Your union is asking you to take strike action next week. There has never been a more important time for further education (FE) staff to take action in support of UCU's 'FE fights back' pay and funding campaign. 

After 10 years of pay cuts, FE lecturers are on average £7,000 a year worse off than school teachers. Yesterday, finally we saw something new; politicians from all sides are starting to take notice and shout about pay in FE. There was a debate yesterday in Parliament's Westminster Hall on FE funding and politicians from all sides made the case for better pay in FE! You can see the debate here. 

In FE we have to fight hard for what we deserve which is why next week's strike action is so important to keep up the pressure. We know talks are happening in some colleges where UCU members are due to strike next week. UCU's message to leaders at those colleges is to follow Capital City College Group in London and make a meaningful offer that members can accept.

As we have seen at colleges like Sandwell and Capital City College Group, when UCU members take strike action it works. Strike action makes a difference and gets a better deal for members and as we have seen in parliament, UCU action is starting to make a difference there too!

Our social media 'wall of support' will go live on Tuesday 29 January. Please post photos of your picketline to social media using the hashtags #FEFightsBack and #FairPayInFE or email us directly.

Together we can make a difference.

Matt Waddup
UCU national head of policy and campaigns