Staff at Kirklees College in Huddersfield and Dewsbury are being balloted on whether to take strike action in a dispute over low pay, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today. The ballot opens today and runs until Friday 14 April.
UCU's claim was for 10% and it is demanding a fair pay award to help staff meet the cost-of-living crisis, as well as a commitment to address unacceptable workloads and advance professional respect. There have been no significant pay rises at Kirklees College since 2009 and the current derisory consolidated pay offer of 1% for this year amounts to a real-terms pay cut of 12.4%, with inflation currently running at 13.4%
A UCU report shows the vast majority of college staff in England 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.
