UCU responds to further education sector finance report

Responding to the new report, UCU has repeated its call for fundamental change and significant investment in further education, and in particular the staff that are its backbone. 

As part of the union's New Deal For FE campaign, UCU members are calling for a 10% or £3k pay rise, a return to a return to national bargaining, parity with schoolteacher pay, closure of equality pay gaps and national agreements on workload. 

UCU head of further education Paul Bridge said, 'This is yet another timely report into the parlous state of further education and the overwhelming need for the new UK government to accept that change is needed after decades of decline. That change must start now.  

'UCU has been calling for fundamental change and significant investment in post-16 education for many years. The new Labour government must be bold with an investment and workforce strategy that aligns with the desperately needed skills agenda. The Budget will be a genuine opportunity for this government to be brave and demonstrate their commitment to a different future for the sector and a new deal for further education.'