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Official UCU Picket

Furness College staff to strike on Wednesday over low pay

17 May 2022

On Wednesday 18 May lecturers at Furness College will strike after management refused to offer staff more than a paltry 1% increase in pay whilst staff face soaring inflation and a cost of living emergency.

Inflation is currently at 9%, meaning the 1% offer is a real term pay cut.

Staff will be picketing outside the main entrance of college from 8am Wednesday morning.

The strike comes after overwhelming 93% of University and College Union (UCU) members who voted in industrial ballots said yes to strike action.

Further days of strike action are planned for 8 and 9 June if management continues to refuse to pay staff more.

Since 2009 pay in further education has fallen behind inflation by 35% and the pay gap between school and college teachers stands at around £9k.  

In 2021, the Westminster government announced an 8.4% increase in funding targeted at those in England aged 16-17 years old, the biggest rise in funding for further education in more than decade.  

UCU regional official Iain Owens said: 'Staff at Furness College are rightly insulted that management has only offered a paltry offer of 1%, which is a huge real term pay cut. Staff have already seen their pay eroded after more than a decade of low ball pay offers. Now as inflation sky rockets and staff struggle to pay their bills, management need to come back with an improved offer. Further strikes are on the cards if management refuses to so.'

Last updated: 18 May 2022