Henley Sixth Form College staff among National Education Union members to go on strike
The NEU is taking action at 40 sites as part of a pay and funding dispute
Teachers at Henley Sixth Form College have voted to go on strike.
National Education Union members at the college are among staff at 40 sites will walk out over pay and funding.
Non-academized sixth form colleges haven't been guaranteed the same funding as other institutions.
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“NEU sixth form college teachers have shown that they will fight for a fair pay award for all colleges. We are in dispute due to the baffling decision by the Government to offer an above-inflation pay award to some sixth form colleges and not others. This choice fundamentally undermines our existing national collective bargaining arrangement within the sixth form college sector and risks the creation of a two-tier workforce.
“The recent additional funding awarded to further education, including sixth form colleges, should properly be spent on staff pay and we are seeking urgent clarification from the DfE that they will confirm that colleges may do so. We have been disappointed by the failure of the Government to resolve this frankly unnecessary dispute, particularly when we have taken every step to explain the distinctive nature of sixth form colleges relative to the schools sector, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of existing collective bargaining arrangements.
“Our strong ballot result demonstrates that members will not hesitate to take strike action if this farcical situation is not put right.”
A Department for Education spokesperson 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.
“Sixth form colleges are responsible for the setting of appropriate pay for their workforce and for managing their own industrial relations.
“The October Budget provided an additional £300m revenue funding for further education to ensure young people are developing the skills this country needs. The department will set out in due course how this funding will be distributed.”