UCU members in further education colleges vote for strike action in row over pay

Over two-thirds (71%) of members who voted backed strike action in the row over pay. The union balloted staff after the employers offered a pay rise of just 0.7%, which would leave staff with a 15% pay cut in real terms over the past four years.

UCU head of bargaining, Michael MacNeil, said: 'This result is a reflection of our members' anger at the employers' refusal to do anything to address falling pay at a time when the cost of living continues to rise.

'College lecturers have seen their pay fall by 15% in the past four years and fail to make up any ground against school teachers' pay, despite increasing workloads.'

UCU members in colleges will join their colleagues and members of Unison, Unite and the EIS in universities on strike on 3 December. Staff in universities are taking a second day of strike action over a 'derisory' 1% pay offer from their employers, which represents a 13% drop in real-terms pay for university staff over five years.