Subject: FE staff deserve a better deal

Dear David, 

I am writing to you personally in advance of this Friday’s national joint forum meeting with the joint trade unions to let you know that the cut in my real pay since 2009 cannot go on. Staff like me across further education (FE) have suffered a devastating cut of at least 25% in our real pay, the worst cut of any in the public sector. Do you have any idea how negatively this has impacted on my personal and professional life and those of my colleagues who are left. 

I know that you are on record as saying that pay in FE is too low and that it is unacceptable that teachers in FE are paid £7,000 less than secondary school teachers. While it is welcome that you have said this, unless something significant changes then your words of support will not help pay my bills or keep me working where I want to, in FE. 

On 27 June the joint trade unions for further education in England wrote to the chair of the Association of Colleges’ (AoCs’) employment committee setting out clearly the unions’ expectations of the AoC in this year’s pay round. I support my union’s position. 

I support the unions’ claim and believe that I and my colleagues have every right to expect an above inflation offer that also makes up for part of what we have lost in the last decade. 

My personal appeal is that you make sure that this year the AoC does not again fail to deliver a pay increase to staff in all colleges and that you deliver one that meets the urgent and genuine needs of staff in FE England. 

Yours sincerely

Name
College name.