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

The negotiated deal will include: 

• An additional 2% pay increase for all staff, backdated to 1 December 2025. On top of a 2% increase that all staff already received in August 2025 (a 4% increase overall) 
• Lecturers on Level 1-5 scale points will receive a 3% increase backdated to 1 December 2025, to address the decline in the value of lecturers' pay at the college (a 5% increase overall) 
• Further work on the college's Workload Agreement following negotiations with UCU 

The deal leaves 17 colleges in the England wide dispute over fair pay and conditions, with strike action taking place at other colleges on Friday 16 January.    

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 Sheffield 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.'