Oxfordshire sixth form teachers are starting their eighth day of strike action
They are wanting the same 5.5% raise given to teachers at academies in September
The government's being urged to treat sixth form college teachers in Oxfordshire fairly as they begin their eighth day of strike action, fighting for the same 5.5% raise given to teachers at academies in September.
Staff at Henley College will be walking out today in a row over pay, joining around 2,000 members of the National Education Union from across the county.
"No teacher wants to be taking strike action"
Pickets will be held from 8am – 9am on 29 Jan, 6 and 7 February.
Nick Childs, Senior Regional Officer for the NEU in the South-East said: "The exceptionally strong turnout for the strike action in November, December and January to date should have been a wake-up call to Government that our members will not back down on this issue.
“It is unfair that teachers in sixth form colleges are not being guaranteed the government funding for a comparable pay award to the 5.5% pay deal from 1st Sept seen elsewhere in academised sixth form colleges and maintained schools.
“Sixth Form teachers do the same job with the same commitment and the same importance. We will never accept a two-tier workforce and our members must have the same pay.
"The responsibility for these strikes lies with Government not teachers. No teacher wants to be taking strike action. They want to be in classrooms doing what they do best: teaching. We remain as always willing to resolve this dispute with Government. However, in the face of yet more silence our members will continue with their action”
What does the Government say?
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “Ensuring people have the skills they need for the future is crucial to this government’s number one mission to grow the economy. We recognise the vital role that further education, including sixth form colleges, play in this.
“The October Budget provided an additional £300m revenue funding for further education to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to seize opportunity and drive growth.”
The Government highlights that “sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce”.