UCU head of further education update, April 2025

Further to the recent updates on the New Deal for FE campaign, the further education committee (FEC) met on Friday 4 April and by majority decided that a member consultation should take place in May, rather than by the end of teaching, which the FEC had previously agreed in March. Branches can still debate and decide this matter at the FE sector conference at Congress 2025; the FE motions can be found here on page 44. Branches are reminded that you need to register your delegate(s) no later than Wednesday 23 April.

Bringing the consultation forward to May could create issues for your branch. Branches are central to the New Deal for FE campaign, and you have a crucial role in engaging with your members about the campaign, the wider timeline of events, how the consultation fits the strategy and ultimately delivering the votes on the ground. You will know from your own organising, campaigning and bargaining work what needs to be in place before you move to consult members, how long that takes and what support you need from your regional office and head office to deliver a successful consultation outcome. I would be grateful if you could feedback to me on these matters.

It may be the case that your branch is actively engaged in local talks or have live issues with management, so let me know how a national consultation in May fits with this. We need to get this important consultation right and we need to hear from you to do that.

To update branches on the consultation and the New Deal for FE campaign, there will be three online regional briefings that branches can send reps to. Details of the briefings are still being developed, however please make a note of the following:

• Briefing 1: Monday 12 May (12:00-14:00), covering FE branches in London, Southern, South East, and South West regions
• Briefing 2: Monday 19 May (12:00-14:00), covering FE branches in East and West Midlands and Eastern and Home Counties regions
• Briefing 3: Tuesday 20 May (12:00-14:00), covering FE branches in the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside and Northern regions. 

Finally, further details about the national UCU rally in London on Saturday 10 May can be found here.

I hope your branch can participate in the rally and join with branches from across the union to make the case for investment in post-16 education.

With best wishes

Paul Bridge
UCU head of further education