Hampshire sixth form colleges stage fresh walkouts as pay dispute continues
It marks the eighth day of action from NEU members since November
Three Hampshire sixth-form colleges are staging a fresh round of walkouts today (Wednesday 29th) as a pay dispute continues.
Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh, Itchen College in Southampton and Peter Symonds College in Winchester are all taking part in what marks the eighth day of striking by NEU members since November.
It's after a 5.5% pay boost was offered to staff at academised colleges in September, while those without academy status were awarded 3.5% - a figure only increasing to match their peers in March this year.
Danielle Hosford, a teacher at Barton Peveril, has rejected claims from the Government that colleges themselves are expected to set workers' pay themselves.
She said:
"We are providing the sixth-form education that, across the country, would essentially be done in a school.
"The confusion comes from the fact that our system is really defragmented, and because most politicians went to a school with a sixth form, or a private school, most haven't seen the problem for themselves.
"The Labour government is choosing to disadvantage our local children, who are becoming young adults with us.
"I find that quite upsetting, because I'm a big believe in providing equality and equity for everybody, and with less funding it's harder to do."
Teachers expected to "swallow an inferior pay award"
Meanwhile, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, said:
"It is with great disappointment that our members are having to take strike action again today, as the Government has shamefully allowed our dispute to drag on into 2025.
"The Government has it well within its power to address this issue of pay disparity between academised and non-academised sixth form colleges, rather than endorsing the creation of a two-tier pay system."
He added: "This Government should be investing in education across the board rather than expecting non-academised sixth form college teachers to swallow an inferior pay award.
"It cannot be the case that one group of teachers doing the same job in the same settings should be paid less than their peers.
"This is something that should have been rectified when first pointed out and it is troubling that the Government appear to believe that such an obvious injustice can stand.
"Our members will fight on until they are valued equally wherever they work. The injustice of it is clear, the solution is also clear."
Government "recognises" colleges' "vital role" in boosting economy
A spokesperson for the Department for Education said they "recognise the vital role" that "further education, including sixth form colleges" plays in "ensuring people have the skills they need for the future":
“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."