COLLEGES NEWS May 2006

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Pay Talks Latest

SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT… NOT ENOUGH!

Further talks between the Unions and the Association of Colleges to try to resolve last year’s pay dispute and to agree a settlement for 2006/07 were held at the National Joint Forum (NJF) on Tuesday 9 May.

At the last meeting between the employers and unions held on 21 March, an offer of a 1.5% increase for 06/07 was immediately rejected by all unions as insulting. NATFHE threatened a two-day strike, which was later suspended following assurances from the AoC that they would increase this offer at the next NJF meeting.

In the event the employers’ side raised their offer to a 2.5% increase from 1 August 2006.

While recognising the improvements, the trade union side could not accept it as the basis of a settlement. NATFHE pointed out that even though the increase was the same as schoolteachers for this year, it failed to address last year’s shortfall of 0.4% with the schoolteachers award.

In response the AoC further revised their offer to 2.9%, but to be paid in two parts; 2% from 1 August 2006 and 0.9% from 1 February 2007.

On the face of it this represents a recognition by the employers of the need to address the shortfall. However, the problem is, that phased in this way, it actually represents (in pure cash terms) less money over a year than the 2.5% upfront offered earlier in the day!

The trade union side therefore rejected this revised offer and urged employers to think again.

The next NJF will meet on 14 June and prior to this further talks are to be arranged between the officials of both sides. It was agreed that there should also be more detailed discussions on the other elements of the trade union claim.

With the recent government proposals for compulsory CPD for all FE staff, development and training issues are of particular importance. It is vital that we aim to secure an agreement that ensures adequate time and facilities, together with safeguards against increased workloads.