Lecturing staff at more than 30 colleges took action last week over a pay claim for an increase of Pounds 1,500 for all full-time staff, writes Ngaio Crequer.
Sue Berryman, assistant secretary at the lecturers’ union, NATFHE, said: “This demonstrates the anger in the FE sector, particularly in colleges where staff on the Silver Book have not had a pay rise for three years, and where in some colleges there has been no pay award for teachers, all of whom are on new contracts.”
Staff at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology said there had been a 25 per cent increase in working hours, but no cost of living pay rises since 1993.
Staff at seven colleges in the North-West had a one-day strike, and there was strong support in inner London. Roger Ward, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said, however : “The issue of conditions and pay is yesterday’s news. There is very little support from the workforce for damaging our students’ and colleges’ interests.”
