Salford City College staff at five sites around the city are due to begin six days of strike action from next Wednesday 30th October, after the College refused to implement national pay and conditions agreements. Other strike days are 12th, 13th,19th, 20th and 21st November.
Following the 'Red Book' agreement, teachers should have been paid increases of between 1.5% and 3% backdated to September 2018, but Salford College has told unions that it can't afford to pay. Last year's accounts for the College show that the Principal was paid £143,000, while it has 'unrestrictive reserves' of £16.182million. It would cost the College £117,000 to resolve the dispute.
Many lower paid staff will be losing around £600 per year as a result of the College's actions, and National Education Union Salford Division Secretary, Judith Elderkin insists it's a step too far for staff, with major future implications for the College and students...
"It's a positive ballot result which reflects the resolve of members who I think are quite angry that a simple thing like normal cost of living pay increase, which was below the rate of inflation at the time it was issued and is still a very poor increase, won't be paid by the College" she says.
"Unfortunately, the minute a college deviates from what is a nationally agreed pay outcome then the college can no longer advertise that it pays national rates and conditions" she explains "It would be a retrograde step for potential staff to even think about working for Salford City College, so the impact long term could be quite serious for students. The College could perhaps have a recruitment problem, might even have a retention problem, and staff might want in future to work in places that do recognise their contribution and national pay awards. The quality of what the College offers will depend on the staff they employ and their ability to attract staff in the future.
"The College has just said that it can't afford that increase at all, and while we do recognise that the FE sector and 6th form colleges have all been hit more severely than schools since 2010, as their settlements have gone down and down and down, and they're asked to do more and take a wider variety of students, but to treat staff in this way and then to perhaps castigate them for balloting isn't right.
"We fear that if the College gets away with underpaying staff this year, what's going to happen to pay and conditions next year and after that?" she asks "This could be the thin edge of the wedge and that's why staff say they need to take action...We are right in this dispute. It is simply not acceptable for Salford City College to fail to implement a National Pay Award..."
The Salford Star has asked Salford City College for a comment and is awaiting a response.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
(3).jpeg)
.png)
(1).JPG)
