More strikes at West Thames College after college fails to improve deal
14 May 2019
Staff at West Thames College will will walk out for another two days on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May after the college failed to make an improved pay offer.
In the absence of an improved offer, UCU members voted to continue their action and will be on picket lines from 8am both mornings outside the London Road entrances to the college's Isleworth campus.
The latest walkouts by West Thames College staff will represent the eighth and ninth days of strike action by UCU members there this year. They walked out for two days last week, following action in January and March. In the recent ballot, 100% of UCU members at West Thames College who voted backed strike action.
The dispute centres on the failure of the college to make a decent pay offer to staff who have seen the value of their pay decline by 25% in the past decade. The pay gap between teachers in colleges and schools currently stands at £7,000 and around two-thirds of college heads have said pay is a major obstacle in attracting staff.
The union said further strikes were planned if the college refused to make a decent offer and that it could not hide behind government cuts if it wanted to avoid further disruption. UCU said the college should follow the lead of the Capital City College Group which recently agreed a 5% pay deal for its 1,700 staff in London.
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