Strike ballots over pay to open in Welsh colleges

Staff in Welsh further education colleges are being balloted for strike action as part of a row over pay.

The dispute has arisen after Collegau Cymru rejected the joint trade unions' pay claim for a rise of 7.5% or £1,500, instead making a final offer of 1%. The unions said that the employers' offer would do nothing to address the falling value of staff pay in further education, and that above-inflation pay rises are needed to ensure colleges can continue to recruit and retain staff.

UCU and UCAC will begin balloting members at 12 colleges this week. The ballot dates are as follows:

• UCU: Monday 24 September - Friday 19 October
• UCAC: Thursday 28 Septemberand - Friday 26 October.

NASUWT, UNISON, GMB and NEU will also begin consulting members in the coming weeks about potential industrial action over pay.

UCU Wales Official Margaret Phelan said: 'Staff working in our colleges have had enough of seeing their wages held down time and again. Above-inflation pay rises are needed to ensure that colleges can continue to recruit and retain staff.

'The employers' 1% pay offer does nothing to address this decline in the value of our members' pay, so we have been left with no option but to ballot for strike action.'