Strike ballots open at 89 college employers today as a UCU survey of further education employees shows a workforce in crisis.
The survey of over 2,000 (2,003) workers from colleges across England shows almost all are struggling financially (96%) because of low wages with four in five survey respondents saying their financial situation is impacting their mental health (79%).
Around half (46%) of survey respondents said their income does not cover the cost of living. Of these, almost two-thirds are heating their home less frequently (67%), a quarter are skipping meals (27%) and one in 20 (6%) are using foodbanks.
Employer body, the Association of Colleges (AoC), has so far refused to make any pay recommendation for 2023/24 even though colleges will https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13160/Pay-of-college-bosses-jumped-by-quadruple-the-recommended-rate" style="color: rgb(176, 12, 98); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" rel="noopener">receive at least £700m more funding over the coming year (23/24) than three years ago.
