A deal has been struck between the University and College Union and New City College over pay and conditions for staff at Hackney College and Tower Hamlets College.

This comes only days after UCU also reached and agreement with Capital City College Group. As part of the deal at NCC, staff will receive a one-off payment of £400 with a further £400 added on to their pay each year. Hourly-paid staff at Hackney will also be moved on to the teachers’ pay spine, bolstering their terms and conditions.

The union said members at the colleges should be proud of their action, but added that the deals should now prompt the Association of Colleges to improve its national pay offer to college staff. The AoC recently announced that it would discuss a pay claim from the trade unions for 2018-19, having previously said this would not happen while strikes were taking place. 

‘Not a pay deal’

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “UCU members took action because they were fed up of being told once again that the cupboard was bare. In both these college groups, members have secured deals on pay and contracts as a result of the action they took. The Association of Colleges should take note. Staff will not put up with their pay being held down any longer and the AoC must bring a fair national deal to the negotiating table.”

Group principal and chief executive of New City College Gerry McDonald said: “It is important to note that this is not a pay deal, and is not linked to any national UCU campaign or any organised union action. This is a productivity agreement made as a result of internal discussions and negotiations around out-of-date teaching contracts. The agreement was reached due to teachers on legacy contracts agreeing to increase their contact hours and adapt working practices in line with the needs of the organisation.”