Colleges across England could be set to strike over pay and conditions

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) could strike after they voted in favour of industrial action over a pay dispute.

A further 32 colleges in England have voted to strike over pay and working conditions and walkouts could start as early as next month if realistic pay offers are not put forward.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) recommended last month that colleges should aimd to increase pay by 6.5% for the academic year of 2023/24.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Our members have emphatically voted to strike over the low pay and high workloads that plague further education.

“Good quality education cannot be built upon the backs of staff who cannot afford to heat and eat.

“The 6.5% pay recommendation by the AoC is a good start but we fear many employers will simply ignore it as they’ve done in the past.

“Where employers can pay more, they should, the money is there. If college bosses want to avoid disruption, they need to offer realistic pay awards, address workloads, and make a commitment to binding national bargaining.”

Dr Grady added: “Where colleges do the right thing, we are willing to work with them to avoid any disruption.

“But if intransigent employers choose to prioritise their own salaries and vanity projects over rewarding the staff who teach and support students, we will respond with strike action. The ball is now in the employers’ court.”