NATFHE celebrates successful strike and demonstration 16 November 2005

As NATFHE members at 220 colleges went on strike on Wednesday, several hundred were bussed to Birmingham where they mounted a noisy protest outside this year's Association of Colleges' conference.

Education secretary Ruth Kelly was the keynote speaker of the morning but avoided a confrontation with the placard-waving crowd outside the main entrance to the International Convention Centre by entering and exiting via a side door.

Once safely inside the main auditorium filled largely with college principals, Kelly announced her intention to narrow the 13% funding gap between schools and colleges to 8% by 2006/7.

NATFHE is now keen to look at the funding increase in more detail to establish where the money is coming from after concerns have been raised about whether it is genuinely 'new'.

As they chanted 'Fair pay for colleges' out in the cold, protestors were filmed by BBC West Midlands and Central TV, and recorded by BBC Radio. After Kelly finished her speech, journalists from The Independent, The Times, The Financial Times, Daily Mail, Times Education Supplement, Birmingham Post and the Press Association came to see the NATFHE demonstration and spoke with members.

Afterwards, hundreds of members attended a rally where a variety of speakers from other unions gave their support and NATFHE members shared their opinions and experiences.

 
 Birmingham rally

 
Brian Ingham, London FE Sector secretary, said: "Ruth Kelly says she realises the gap is unjust and she will do something about it but we don't judge people by what they say - we judge them by what they do. If the secretary of state for education can't end something so unjust and unfair, who can? She says 'give me more time - I can't do things overnight' but this government came in to power in 1997 so it's been a long night."

Kat Fletcher, president of NUS, recalled her experiences in FE which included cancelled classes because the college couldn't recruit tutors who would accept the paltry pay rates. She said: "It is time to close the funding gap - certainly that is the message I wil take in my imminent address to the Association of Colleges' annual conference."

Bill Anderson of Birmingham NUT, told the rally: "The point about this government is that it will not accept criticism - from trade unions or its own MPs. It is attempting to drive down costs with a modernisation agenda. It is sweating its assets and that means exploiting people in the public sector."

Jon Bryan, chair of NATFHE's FE committee, pointed out that colleges often have their priorities wrong. He highlighted that having spent £40m on new building in the last couple of years, Newcastle College is preparing to fork out a further £70m on more over the next five to seven years. In the summer, the college sent 156 dismissal letters to staff who had refused to sign new contracts with worse terms and conditions. One NATFHE member will lose his job as a result of not signing.

Reports of action across the country were positive and there was much regional and local media coverage of picket lines. In the run-up to the strike and on the day, the NATFHE press office was inundated with requests to speak to college-based representatives and many radio and TV interviews were conducted. The south-west was a particularly lively region.

Barry Lovejoy, head of colleges, said: "We were really pleased to see thousands of members across the country strike on Wednesday, and very glad that several hundred made the effort to come to the demonstration in Birmingham. We have sent a clear message to Ruth Kelly that colleges won't meet Sir Andrew Foster's ambitious expectations for improving the nation's skills if they are forced to provide education on the cheap.

"Until the funding gap between colleges and schools is eliminated and college lecturers are given national pay scales that bring them into line with schoolteachers' pay, we have to continue to make our message heard by those who have the power to change the status quo.

"We will put all our efforts now into restarting pay talks with the Association of Colleges."

Around the regions

EAST MIDLANDS

There was solid action reported from Tresham Institute, Barnsley, Doncaster, RCAT, Sheffield, Derby, Chesterfield, South East Derbyshire, New College Nottingham, Peoples College, Broxtowe, South Nottinghamshire, West Nottinghamshire, North Nottinghamshire, Leicester, Loughborough, South Leicestershire, Stephenson, Brooksby, Stamford, and Lincoln colleges. Press coverage was particularly good in Sheffield and Derby.

LONDON

Picketing NATFHE members at City & Islington College made the front page of the Times Educational Supplement's FE Focus section, with their solid strike which shut down the vast majority of classes.

Neil Rogall, joint branch secretary at Finsbury Park, said: "The picket lines at Camden Road and Finsbury Park were very well supported, with numerous pickets. The mood was upbeat at 8.30am when the eight-plus members braving the early morning cold were the centre of the exhausting photo shoot by the TES.

"The lunchtime demonstration, which focused on the casualisation of hourly-paid teaching staff, was excellent and noisy. We had more than 70 people marching including some students. The rally on the steps of Camden Road was inspiring despite the chill. Jeremy Corbyn, our local MP (see picture above), slammed the underfunding of further education, and the way that the sector has been casualised leaving hourly paid staff insecure and underpaid. He paid particular tribute to the positive work tutors do in the local community, often way beyond their paid duties.

"A number of members also travelled to Birmingham to lobby Ruth Kelly. Now it's time for management to come back with an improved pay offer that doesn't widen the gap between us and schoolteachers."

At Carshalton College, virtually all 40 NATFHE members held a picket line from 7.30am to 10.15am. Branch representative Jan Koene said: "There was quiet chaos in the college as the management had not cancelled classes and I guess had not anticipated so many people being out. Members gained a lot of confidence from the day and our branch is getting stronger."

NORTH WEST

At Bolton College - Ruth Kelly's local college - NATFHE members had a very successful strike (see picture above). Bolton's principal cancelled all classes in advance.

Action at City College Manchester was solid on all four main sites with some furry friends lending their support (see picture above). For the first time, members at HMP New Hall Prison, working in prison education under City College's contract with the prison service, also took part. Colin Gledhill, north-west regional official said: "Twenty NATFHE members at the prison came out and three-quarters of all scheduled classes had to be cancelled.  The prison governor gracefully accepted that the action was in pursuit of a legitimate professional aim and was satisfied that it caused no security risk.  I am writing to these members to recognise the ground-breaking significance of their action."

At Halton College, following the departure of a long-serving secretary, the branch organised itself quickly to take action.

Pickets were on both Hopwood Hall College sites from 7.30am. Non-members were asking to join and visiting the picket line. Strikers were photographed by the local press and received messages of support from UNISON.

The strike at Liverpool Community College went well (see picture above) and built on a period of renewed activity. The Liverpool Echo and Radio Merseyside covered it.

At Oldham College, as at Halton , a long-serving secretary has recently left but the branch organised itself quickly to take action.

Virtually solid strikes amongst members were also reported by branches at Blackburn, Hugh Baird, Skelmersdale, South Trafford, North Trafford, Southport, Wirral, Macclesfield, Mid Cheshire and Stockport colleges. All reported that pickets were out in some force on all sites, at many of the colleges non-members showed an interest in joining NATFHE, and virtually all branches got local media interest.

SOUTHERN & SOUTH EAST

There was a very successful picket and strike at Canterbury College where many classes were cancelled and students supported lecturers on the picket line.  There was also a great deal of support from passers by and the general public. The picket lasted all day, despite the freezing temperature.  The NATFHE members at the college responded magnificently to a call for national action despite the fact that they are facing local problems with a proposal to increase their hours due to funding shortages at the college.

The NATFHE branch at Thanet College took strike action for the first time in many years, while at West Kent College NATHE members were joined on the picket line by the NUS. More than 400 students and employees signed a petition in support of  lecturers' pay and lack of funding. There was also a joint statement issued by the NATFHE branch and the principal regarding pay and funding.   

SOUTH WEST

Exeter College students sing for their lecturers' supper

A solid picket line at Exeter College with great support from students (see picture above), who composed and performed their own song about fair pay. Regional TV and several local media attended.

Members from Truro College and Cornwall College combined for a very noisy demo in the middle of Truro on market day.

At City of Bristol College, a demonstration on College Green was very well attended.
 
Lecturers at Bicton College joined in the action.

YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE

This strike was a first for Askham Bryan College.  A picket line was manned by six members outside the college gates between 8am and midday, and Minster FM came along and broadcast an interview. 
 
At Bradford ACE, support for the strike was solid and there was a good turnout on the picket line. Most students were supportive. Bradford Community Radio interviewed Tricia Gott from the main college branch.
 
Support for the strike was solid at Grimsby Institute, and there was good turnout on both picket lines. The Grimsby Telegraph had some positive coverage including pictures of the picket lines and supportive comments from students who were interviewed.  The college management issued defensive comments.
 
Management decided to close all classes at Huddersfield Technical College. Despite this, there were 20 NATFHE pickets alongside the UNISON caretakers who are in the second week of their indefinite strike. The local paper had extensive coverage and despite the cold, the college was picketed for most of the day.
 
At Keighley College, staff picketed outside the two college buildings and handed out leaflets provided by head office. The branch drew up a special leaflet aimed at students which explained the issues more clearly to them. As a consequence, they gained some excellent student support. A joint press release from the college was issued which is still to appear in the local paper.  Thirty signed letters outlining the issues were delivered to Keighley MP, Ann Cryer.

A total of 25 members took part in the strike action at Selby College.

The strike was very well supported by NATFHE members at Wakefield College, with vibrant picket lines on all sites. Although some staff from other unions crossed the picket lines they did so with visible regret and took leaflets expressing their support for the action. Many said they would have phoned in sick but had been threatened by management that their right to self certify had been suspended. Many external visitors to the college refused to cross the picket lines including council van drivers. 

Action at York College was effective with about 125 members out on strike giving out the leaflets provided by head office and another one drawn up by the branch which had a sign-up form on the back of it. About 20 staff were on the picket line for the early morning shift, then there was a lunchtime picket line and even a skeleton one in the evening. There was good support from other staff going in. The college declared a study leave day for AS/A-level students. The evening paper visited and did an interview but did not give much coverage.

Please send any reports and photographs of action to [email protected] so that they can be added to this round-up.

Messages of support came in from other unions:

"I read with interest an email detailing the result of your union's ballot for industrial action. I note that your union membership returned a resounding yes vote for industrial action at 80% of colleges.

"Can I add that I am not surprised at the result taking into account the circumstances surrounding your current wage claim and the subsequent offer by the employers of just 2.8%.

"Can I request that you send a message of support to your members in dispute on Wednesday 16th November from myself as General Secretary, The ASLEF Executive Committee and our members."

Keith Norman, General Secretary ASLEF

"Dear brothers and sisters,

"FE colleges play a vital role in educating those who, without such education, would face a struggle to enter work. It’s therefore scandalous that the government is not providing the funds to give lecturers a decent salary.
"Civil servants are only too aware of the issues of overwork and low pay that lecturers are having to face. On behalf of PCS members, I congratulate NATFHE members on their magnificent vote for strike action. Our recent experience in our fight over pensions is that it takes a willingness to take action to win concessions. I offer our support for your action today – because we also showed that it takes solidarity."

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary PCS 

"The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs and the Labour Representation Committee sends its greetings to and full solidarity with the members of NATFHE in their struggle for equality of pay in Further Education.  We will do everything we can to support you in Parliament and within the wider Labour movement.  Further Education is something our society should cherish and the professionalism, care and skill of all those who work in it should be properly valued and rewarded."

John McDonnell MP, Socialist Campaign Group

"On behalf of the NUJ I am writing to express our support for NATFHE's national day of action.

"Your members deserve pay parity and the failure of the government to deliver is a travesty.

"The work your members perform is vital to building a high-skilled, successful economy and it is little wonder your members are angry at the Government's apparent disregard for their work.

"We wish you every success and stand shoulder to shoulder with you for fair pay for professional workers."

Jeremy Dear, General Secretary NUJ