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

The negotiated deal will include: 

• 4% pay rise 
• Additional spine point at the top of the scale, combined increase totalling 7.74%   
• Starting salary to become £30,366 
• Agreement on workload protections including a reduction in annual teaching hours, additional of safety protections and prioritised time for planning and marking 

 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 remaining 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 Lancaster and Morecambe 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.'