Strikes off at Lancaster and Morecambe College as staff win pay rise and improvements to working conditions
Staff at Lancaster and Morecambe College have voted to accept a pay offer of 4% and pull out of the England-wide college strike action, the University and College Union (UCU) announced today (Wednesday January 14).
The negotiated deal will include:
*4% pay rise
*Additional spine point at the top of the scale, combined increase totalling 7.74%
*Starting salary to become £30,366
*Agreement on workload protections including a reduction in annual teaching hours, additional of safety protections and prioritised time for planning and marking
UCU is urging management at the remaining colleges to come back to the table and make fair pay offers that help close the pay gap between school and college teachers so it can call off the remaining strike action.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “I want to congratulate our members at Lancaster and Morecambe College for winning a pay award that helps bring their salaries into line with their counterparts in schools. It is down to the determination and incredible solidarity of our members which shows what can be achieved when workers unionise and stand together.
“To avoid disruption on campus this week, leaders at colleges where we are still in dispute need to make meaningful offers and show they value their staff.”
A spokesman for Lancaster and Morecambe College said: “We are pleased to announce that the proposed industrial action by UCU members will not be going ahead this week.
"Following negotiations between the College’s senior leadership and UCU representatives, agreements have been put in place in response to concerns around pay and conditions for teaching staff.
“Managers at LMC are fully supportive of the FE sector’s national campaign for improved investment and had been reviewing pay scales across the whole workforce prior to the UCU action.”
Daniel Braithwaite, Principal and CEO, said: “We have been able to negotiate and agree improvements in salary due to a sustained increase in student numbers and efficient financial management.
"We are now focusing on further developing our curriculum to support the continued growth of our 16-18 cohort and expanding our level 3 technical pathways.”
All classes and exams will run, as scheduled, for the remainder of the week.