College staff are still set to strike despite new pay offer

THE threat of strike action by college staff in a row over wages has prompted a revised pay offer from their employers after the Welsh Government provided extra funds to cover it.

But two planned strike days are still on the table for December 13-14, the University and College Union (UCU) said.

UCU, UCAC, NASUWT, Unison, GMB and NEU are now consulting members at Wales’ 13 further education (FE) colleges on the revised pay offer from their employers.

FE lecturers say they should get the same 3.5% award made to teachers in Wales and England, while support staff have complained they are so low-paid they struggle to make ends meet.

Although FE lecturers do the same or similar job to schoolteachers, running A-level, Welsh Baccalaureate and other courses for students aged 16-19, their pay is not agreed in the same statutory way.

They voted to strike last month after being offered 1%, compared to the teachers’ 3.5% award.

A planned walkout today has been called off after a new offer, although two further walkout dates remain live, said UCU Wales.

The new offer is for between 1.5% and 4.5% depending on experience and salary level.

All teaching grades up to and including Main Grade 6 lecturers have been offered 3.5%, while those on higher salaries have been offered 2% and all staff on management contracts, excluding senior post-holders, have been offered 1.5%.

Support staff earning less than £19,500 have been offered 4.5% and those earning more than £19,501 have been offered 2%.