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  9. UCU members at North East colleges win pay award worth up to 16.5%
ETC

UCU members at North East colleges win pay award worth up to 16.5%

23 October 2024

Staff at five colleges in Cleveland, Redcar and Stockton-on-Tees have overwhelmingly voted to accept a pay award worth up to 16.5% and end their dispute with employer Education Training Collective (ETC), which has seen them win two industrial ballots and take 13 days of action over the past 17 months.

The multi-year agreement will see staff win a combined pay award of:

  • 3% from August 2022
  • 1% from May 2023
  • 6.5% from November 2023
  • 3% from August 2024

Lecturers, course leaders and support staff will also gain additional increases worth roughly 3% for those at the top of their pay scales. This means staff will see their pay rise by up to 16.5% over three years. ETC has also made a commitment to revisit the 24/25 pay award should additional government funding be made available.  

The agreement will also see parking charges removed from all college campuses and staff gain additional wellbeing days.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'I want to personally congratulate every UCU member at ETC for winning two industrial ballots, taking 13 days of strike action and holding firm until they got the pay award they deserve. This award should now serve as a warning to other college bosses, pay our members fairly or face sustained strike action until we win.'

UCU regional support official Chris Robinson said: 'After a period of significant industrial unrest our reps and members look forward to working productively with ETC and restoring effective industrial relations. Over the course of this dispute our branch has grown significantly in members and reps and this resolution is an example of what is possible when members stand up, organise and fight.'

Last updated: 23 October 2024