Further education needs an urgent injection of funding

Earlier this month, the joint unions met with the Association of Colleges (AoC) to discuss the pay claim of 5%, or £1500, whichever is the greater, for further education staff. The AoC have asked for the joint unions to support them in demanding a specific pay injection from the government that will be ring-fenced for staff pay. The proposed pay package that has been offered, contingent on this funding offer being accepted, is 5% over two years. UNISON’s committee is now discussing how the union will respond to this offer in light of a recent survey which revealed that members in FE are feeling increasingly demoralised, stressed and demotivated following year after year of cuts to their pay and conditions. The pay claim also comes as pay in further education has been falling behind pay in schools for a decade and this week it’s been announced that many teachers will be getting a pay award of 3.5% this year. As far back as 2016, the Conservative minister Robert Halfon said: “High-quality technical and further education is not only vital in opening up doors to young people in some of the hardest to reach areas of the country, it also helps local businesses get the skilled workforce they need to drive up the productivity and economic growth that our economy needs.” “We couldn’t agree more,” says UNISON’s national officer Leigh Powell. “If we truly want our country to flourish in the future we need to invest in our further education sec...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article education further education Source Type: news