Breakthrough in Wales after FE strike

John Griffiths the deputy minister for skills, has written to Wales official, Margaret Phelan, stating: 'The Welsh Assembly Government remains fully committed to the continuation of pay parity and we will require all FE institutions to abide by the nationally negotiated pay agreement. The requirement will form part of the conditions of funding that will be published in the summer.

'I understand that you and your members may be worried about an institution ignoring the conditions of funding. I would regard such an issue as very serious indeed. Should it occur, it would lead to a claw back of funding from the institution.'

UCU's further education committee congratulated members in Wales on the overwhelming support for the strike on 16 April which has had a clear and immediate impact on the Welsh Assembly Government.

They voted to suspend the action short of strike action until 31 May 2008 to give time for the employers' body, fforwm, to respond.

UCU will be writing to fforwm, asking that they recommend all colleges implement the agreement in full from 1 August 2008, and offering to go to ACAS for conciliation to resolve the issue of progression for the exceptional group of staff.