A ballot for strike action opened today at Hugh Baird College in Merseyside after management insisted it would only offer staff a 'derisory' 1% pay increase and a one off payment of just £500. Inflation is currently at 9%, making the offer a huge pay cut in real terms.
The ballot will run until Monday 20 June and if successful will pave the way for strike action during key dates early in the next academic year. It follows an overwhelming 89% of UCU members indicating they would be prepared to back strike action in a consultative ballot with a turnout of 81%.
UCU is demanding a significant uplift to pay to make up for more than a decade of below inflation pay offers and to help meet soaring levels of inflation. Since 2009 pay in further education has fallen at least 25% behind inflation and the pay gap between school and college teachers stands at around £9k. Westminster recently announced the biggest increase in further education funding in more than a decade.
