Wales Pay Claim

ACM will press for a 6% pay rise for college staff in 2008 or a flat rate of £1500, whichever is greater. The claim, which was agreed last week by ACM’s Wales Committee, is also seeking meaningful negotiations over a national agreement on training and development, and guidelines on work-life balance and working time. It also stresses that there should be no reduction in managers’ differentials.

Peter Pendle, ACM General Secretary said, “The Welsh Assembly Government, quite rightly, is pursuing a significant skills agenda; and it is further education colleges that are driving this forward. However, to succeed colleges need a well motivated and well paid workforce. With inflation currently running at around 4% a serious pay rise is needed.”

ACM will now be seeking the agreement of other staffside unions for a joint pay claim.

Employees Say Improve My Role

A new survey conducted on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has found that we are a nation with long term ambition rather than a quick fix attitude, with people choosing to improve their jobs rather than apply for new ones.

The survey reveals good news for employers, as more than half (54 per cent) of respondents said they would rather improve their current role compared to just 16 per cent preferring to start afresh. Despite this, less than half (40 per cent) of those surveyed were likely to ask their employers for training to help develop their roles.

Findings reveal 46 per cent of employees surveyed said training would make them more likely to stay with the company. An earlier report by the Department for Education and Skills, now the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) suggests employers are overlooking the benefits that training can bring to staff retention, which found that less than one per cent of employers would increase training to encourage staff retention or morale. Of those who did train their staff, 4 in 10 employers reported an increase in staff retention.

This is also reflected in employees’ views of work based training, as 45 per cent of employees surveyed would feel more valued, and 46 per cent more motivated if their organisation invested in their skills.

Jaine Clarke, Director of Skills for Employers at the Learning and Skills Council comments:

“This research reveals a clear need for employers to change their attitude to training if they are to reduce staff turnover and boost morale. This is now easier than ever before thanks to our Train to Gain Service, which offers independent, impartial advice at no cost to the employer.

“We would also encourage employees to take their future into their own hands and ask their employers about training before taking the step of finding a new job.”

Opinion in Coleman Case Welcomed

ACM has welcomed the opnion of the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice on the Coleman Attridge case. Sharon Coleman had claimed under the Disability Discrimination Act that her employer had treated her less favourably than others because she had a disabled child.

The issue at stake was whether disability discrimination law protects people who, although not themselves disabled, face discrimination because of their association with a disabled person. The Employment Tribunal had asked the European Court for a decision on whether such discrimination is covered by European law. The Advocate General’s opinion is absolutely clear that it does, and also that this would extend to all areas covered by anti-discrimination law.

David Green, ACM Head of Employment Relations said, “This is an important decision which will be welcomed by many ACM members in a similar position to Sharon. Despite colleges having policies on promoting equality, we’ve seen members with caring responsibilities lose their jobs because of their college’s failure to make reasonable adjustments.”

The TUC was also supportive. General Secretary Brendan Barber said, “The Advocate General has given a welcome opinion in this important case. Workers with caring responsibilities should be protected from discrimination and harassment in the workplace.

‘Although most sensible employers now realise the benefits that come from being flexible and helping staff balance their lives, there are many bosses still living in the last century, who need to be persuaded to do much, much more to help their employees have less stressful lives and not to make life even more difficult for those already shouldering caring responsibilities.”

More information on the Advocate general’s decision can be found here.