Union pay and conditions victory at Warrington and Vale Royal College

The deal will see staff at the college receive a 6.5% pay increase, backdated to August, along with guaranteed incremental pay increases of up to £1,000 a year. 

Changes to staff terms and conditions will see all teaching staff now able to reach the top of the college pay scale. Previously, the pay band for teaching staff was split into a 'main' and 'upper' scale, with those in the main band unable to access the upper band.  

The starting salary for all teachers and lecturers at the college will now be £29,227, up from £27,443, and will increase to £41,609 through annual increments. Previously many staff were capped at just £33,725. 

The new agreement will also see improvements to the way bank holidays are calculated for term time only staff, guaranteeing these staff the same bank holidays as colleagues employed on all-year contracts. 

The deal follows a ballot earlier this year, that saw an overwhelming 94% of members vote to take strike action, on a 75% turnout, and as college staff across England prepare to be balloted in response to an inadequate national pay offer. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "I want to congratulate every UCU member at Warrington College for standing up for each other, overwhelmingly backing strike action and winning themselves the pay award they deserve.  

"It should not have taken the threat of strike action to bring management back to the table but it is testament to the strength of feeling and the strength of our members that we have won a pay rise and better terms for staff at the college. As UCU begins balloting tens of colleges across the country, college bosses now need to look at Warrington and Vale and get back to the negotiating table and agree decent pay rises for staff."