Lecturers to strike over pay claim
LECTURERS and academic support staff at Welsh further education (FE) colleges have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a row over pay and workloads.
The dispute has arisen after all 13 FE colleges and institutions in Wales rejected the joint trade unions’ pay claim for a rise of 7.5% or £1,500, instead making a final offer of 1%.
More than 2,400 members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted in a ballot held by the union which could result in a walk out at 12 colleges. St David’s Catholic College Cardiff does not have a UCU branch but staff there are represented by other unions. Unison, UCAC, NASUWT, GMB and NEU are also consulting their members.
Nine in 10 (91%) of the UCU members who voted have backed strike action over pay, while a similar proportion (90%) voted in favour of strike action over workload, the union said.
The UCU said the 1% pay offer would do nothing to address the falling value of staff pay in further education, and the refusal to negotiate on workload had left members deeply frustrated.
It said was now up to the employers to return to the negotiating table with an improved offer on pay and workload.
UCU Wales official, Margaret Phelan, said: “This result shows that staff are not prepared to just stand by and watch their pay and conditions deteriorate. The employers’ 1% pay offer does nothing to address the declining value of college pay and the refusal to address workload concerns has left members deeply frustrated. The employers now need to recognise the level of concern amongst college staff and return to the negotiating table with an improved offer on pay and workload as a matter of urgency.”
Staff at Bridgend College & Pencoed, Cardiff & Vale College, Coleg Cambria (Llysfasi, Yale and Deeside), Merthyr College, Gower College Swansea, Coleg Gwent, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Coleg Y Cymoedd, Pembrokeshire College, Grwp Neath Port Talbot, Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion were balloted for strike action.
Mark Dacey, lead negotiator, speaking on behalf of the 13 independent employer colleges said: “During the course of the day college CEOs have received various communications from UCU. Until such time as the sole trade union which has completed its ballot has communicated the outcome of the vote with individual employers we will not be in a position to respond formally.
“It is important to note that any union must follow the exact terms set out in trade union law. Each union must respond to each individual employer. This is not a national dispute. It is a series of negotiations facilitated by Colegau Cymru on behalf of each college board.”
Iestyn Davies, chief executive of Colegau Cymru/Colleges Wales said the dispute was with individual colleges.
He added: “We work closely with the individual colleges and help facilitate the collective bargaining and negotiations with the trade unions. As of the time of Monday October 22 college principals are currently waiting to receive the individual outcomes of the ballots entered into by UCU.
“Since rejecting the initial pay offer of 7.5% they have worked with Welsh Government officials to determine whether or not an award in excess of the 1% they have received themselves, could be realised. These talks are still ongoing. In the meanwhile all concerned with post-16 education will be aware that continued real terms cuts in funding have left their mark on the FE sector and any pay rise must be affordable.”