Strikes off at Myerscough College as staff win pay rise and improvements to working conditions

The deal leaves 25 colleges in the England wide dispute over fair pay and conditions, with strike action set to go ahead at other colleges on Wednesday 14, Thursday 15 and Friday 16 January (2026). 

The negotiated deal will include: 

• 4% pay rise from 1 January 2026 
• changes to the pay structure whereby most staff will see an increase over the year of between 4% and 9.7% 
• starting salary for lecturers to increase by 21.4% (from £25,082 to £30,451) by July 
• two days additional annual leave 

The deal also includes a significant expansion of the UCU bargaining unit to include classroom-based learning support roles. 

UCU is urging management at the remaining colleges to come back to the table and make fair pay offers that help close the pay gap between school and college teachers so it can call off the strike action. 

UCU - alongside sister unions NEU, GMB, UNISON and Unite - is calling for a New Deal for FE, including pay parity with schoolteachers, national workload agreements and a binding national bargaining framework. The average college teacher earns £9,000 less than their counterpart does in schools. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'I want to congratulate our members at Myerscough College for winning a pay award that helps bring their salaries into line with their counterparts in schools. It is down to the determination and incredible solidarity of our members which shows what can be achieved when workers unionise and stand together. 

'To avoid disruption on campus this week, leaders at colleges where we are still in dispute need to make meaningful offers and show they value their staff.'