NJF Pay Offer Accepted

ACM has with some reluctance, agreed to accept the pay offer made to unions at the English National Joint Forum. The decision was taken at a meeting today of the ACM President’s committee after considering the views of branches. Although a number of branches described the offer as derisory, a majority felt that in the current circumstances, there was no prospect of securing anything better.

The Association of Colleges (AoC) offer to the unions was for a 2% rise from 1 August 2007, and a further 1% on current rates from 1 February 2008. ACM General Secretary Peter Pendle said that these figures should be viewed as minimum by branches when it comes to local implementation of the pay deal; and that we would help any branch seeking a higher increase at their college.

The employer’s offer also included:

• To tackle low pay, a rounding up of the second instalment in February for scale points 4 to 11 inclusive (up to £15,057) on the current AoC pay spine to give an overall rise of £500.

• To continue negotiations on a Joint agreement on Training and Development, with an aim to complete by August 2007, but recognising that we are awaiting final legislation.

• To set up an officer’s working party to commence negotiations on a national joint agreement on guidance on work life balance and working time, with a completion date of December 2007.

• The AoC to provide case studies on how colleges use the Advanced Teacher and Training scale.

The other NJF trade unions are currently consulting on the offer and the final outcome may not be known until later this month.