The University and College Union has been forced to call off today’s strike over pay after a last minute High Court injunction.

Last month, the union’s FE committee voted to take industrial action at colleges in England over the 2014/15 pay offer made by the Association of Colleges in June.

However, the AoC and Westminster Kingsway College took the matter to the High Court and were yesterday granted an injunction to stop the strike.

The High Court agreed that the ballot used to justify the action was too old.

Marc Whitworth, acting director of employment services at the AoC said: “We are pleased with the outcome and that the court agreed in favour of the employer.

“Strike action relying on an old ballot has been prevented, which means colleges and their students can go about their day-to-day business as normal. Our first priority is always our members, and the students they serve.”

The UCU said it had defended members’ right to strike in court, but would abide by the decision. Its members in colleges in England will go to work as normal today.

Back in June the AoC made what it called its “full and final offer” in the pay negotiations with unions representing college staff.

The deal included removing the lowest current pay grade, with staff placed on the new grade receiving a 2 per cent increase.

Staff working in roles above the base rate would receive a 1 per cent consolidated increase under the offer.

Despite the UCU’s stance, the offer was accepted by the five other unions involved in negotiations, AMiE, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, GMB, Unison and Unite and the AoC has said it will press ahead with implementation.

Related stories:

UCU strike: Union members in colleges to walk out next month over pay - September 2014

FE strike looms as pay talks end without agreement - May 2014