Truro and Penwith College staff among hundreds striking in row over pay
The University and College Union has called a 2.5% pay recommendation "an insult"
Last updated 6th Oct 2022
Staff from six colleges across the South West are going on strike, including some from Truro and Penwith College and City College in Plymouth.
The University and College Union (UCU) says they are taking action on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th, Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th October in a row over pay, with further walk-outs planned on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th October unless "suitable pay offers" are made.
Staff will be picketing the entrances of all colleges on each morning of strike action and UCU general secretary Jo Grady will be joining the picket lines.
According to UCU, the strikes are part of the biggest industrial action further education has ever seen.
Across England, over 20 colleges are being hit with strike action and most colleges also saw strikes last week.
UCU is demanding employers make a pay offer that reflects the soaring cost of living.
They say that since 2009 pay in further education has fallen behind inflation by 35% and the pay gap between school and college teachers stands at around £9k. Unqualified college teachers earn as little as £21k whilst qualified teachers earn as little as £26k.
In June, employer representative, the Association of Colleges, made a pay recommendation of just 2.5%. RPI inflation is now at 12.3%. Employers have had two months since UCU's ballot result to make meaningful pay offers that reflect rising inflation levels.
So far UCU has called off strike action at two colleges, including at Abingdon and Witney College in West Oxfordshire, after receiving pay offers worth 8% for lowest paid staff and 5% for most college lecturers.
This summer UCU produced a report that shows the vast majority of college staff are financially insecure, impacting the mental health of more than eight in 10 with many being forced to skip meals and restrict hot water use to save money. Seven in 10 said they will leave the sector unless pay and working conditions improve.
The Department for Education has announced £1.6bn in extra funding for further education and UCU estimates that colleges already have an additional £400m that is available to spend on staff compared with 2019-20. UCU is also balloting staff at 150 universities, including over low pay.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "This strike action is entirely the fault of college bosses who would rather see disruption hit colleges than give their own staff a fair pay deal. It is a disgrace.
"College staff are the beating heart of education and transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of students every year. Yet their pay has fallen behind inflation by 35% over the last twelve years and now many are using food banks. It is frankly an insult for employer body the Association of Colleges to recommend a pay offer of just 2.5%.
"Where we receive meaningful offers from employers, we are willing to negotiate. But first college principals need to make serious pay offers that address the cost-of-living crisis".
Staff from Truro and Penwith Colleges will be on the picket lines outside the main entrances to their sites in Truro and Penzance from 8am on strike days.