22 March 2006

Slap in the face for college staff

All six further education unions have unanimously rejected as ‘insulting’ a 1.5% pay offer by the college employers’ body, the Association of Colleges, at a meeting held on March 21.

The unions, representing college lecturers, managers, support and manual staff, have called the offer ‘derisory’ and a ‘slap in the face’ for college staff.

The offer from the Association of Colleges was in response to a joint trade union claim of 7% for 2006/7. Employers claimed that colleges were unable to pay anything more because of financial uncertainty.

All trade unions were outraged and committed themselves to work together to launch an immediate campaign within their memberships to press for an updated offer.

Christine Lewis, joint secretary of the trade union side and national education official for UNISON, said:

‘At a time when the Foster report has highlighted low levels of morale in colleges and poor rewards for staff, this offer is quite extraordinary. Whatever the further education white paper holds for the sector, it will be difficult to keep staff on board in this climate of anger.’

Barry Lovejoy, joint secretary of the trade union side and NATFHE head of colleges, said:

‘The trade unions indicated their clear willingness to discuss flexible means of achieving a reasonable offer in the context of a tight financial situation. Our attempt to be accommodating was thrown back in our face with a derisory offer.’

Notes to editors

The six unions of the National Joint Forum are NATFHE, the University & College Lecturers’ Union, UNISON, the Association of College Managers, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, the TGWU, and the GMB.  

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