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Strikes at 15 colleges from Wednesday in row over pay

26 February 2018

Members of UCU at 14 colleges will be on strike on Wednesday and Thursday this week (28 February & 1 March) in an ongoing row over pay. On Wednesday staff at Sunderland College are also walking out.

The colleges affected are

  • City and Islington College
  • College of Haringey Enfield and North East London
  • Westminster Kingsway College
  • Croydon College
  • Epping Forest College
  • Havering College
  • Lambeth College
  • Richmond-upon-Thames College
  • Sandwell College
  • Sunderland College
  • City of Westminster College
  • College of North West London  
  • Hackney Community College
  • Redbridge College
  • Tower Hamlets College

The dispute has arisen following a disappointing pay offer of 1% from the employer representative, the Association of Colleges, in September. UCU said the below-inflation offer failed to address the years of pay suppression which further education staff have endured.

Staff at all affected institutions are taking action over pay, but at some colleges the dispute also includes concerns about working conditions including holiday entitlement, workload and observation policies. Overall, 91% of staff at affected colleges voted for strike action. The average turnout was 63%. A full breakdown of results is below.

Striking college staff will join UCU members striking over cuts to USS pensions at a march and rally in central London on Wednesday afternoon. The march will leave Malet Street at 1pm, before heading to the rally starting at 2pm in Westminster Central Hall with "education for all" speakers including:

  • Shadow chancellor John McDonnell
  • Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner
  • National Union of Students president Shakira Martin
  • UCU general secretary Sally Hunt

UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: 'The overwhelming support for strike action at these colleges shows the depth of anger about continued attempts to hold down pay in further education. Staff walking out on Wednesday feel they have been left with no alternative and there is a mandate for further strikes if the disputes cannot be resolved.'


College

% voting for strike action

% turnout

Capital City College Group*

96%

63%

United College Group ^

90%

60%

New City College~

94%

63%

Croydon College

88%

68%

Epping Forest College

100%

56%

Havering College

78%

58%

Lambeth College

88%

66%

Richmond-upon-Thames College

93%

60%

Sandwell College

90%

63%

Sunderland College

78%

66%

Overall

91%

63%

* Capital City College Group comprises of the following colleges
City and Islington College
College of Haringey Enfield and North East London
Westminster Kingsway College

^ United College Group comprises of the following colleges
City of Westminster College
College of North West London  

~ New City College comprises of the following colleges
Hackney Community College
Redbridge College
Tower Hamlets College

Last updated: 26 February 2018

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