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Strikes dates announced at Lewisham Southwark College

4 May 2018

Members of UCU at Lewisham Southwark College will be on strike later this month in a row over pay. Staff say they will walk out on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 May unless the college addresses their concerns over falling pay.

The union said that staff at Lewisham Southwark College had been offered only one pay increase (of just 1%) in the past five years and don't receive a London weighting.

The college is part of NCG, based in Newcastle, who have refused to implement a national pay deal of just 1%. Even at colleges that have honoured national pay increases, staff pay has fallen by 24% in real terms since 2009.

The union said staff have had enough and would walk out this month as a last resort in their battle over pay. In the recent strike ballot, 93% of UCU members who voted backed strike action.

UCU regional support official, Jon Bryan, said: 'Staff at Lewisham Southwark College have seen their pay held down for years and they have had enough. Strike action is always a last resort, but staff clearly feel they have been left with no alternative.

'Such a strong mandate for strike action should focus the minds of NCG management and they must deal with the pay issue if they want to avoid serious disruption later this month.'

Last updated: 16 May 2018

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