Although pay negotiations have yet to start between the Association of Colleges (AoC) and the six FE unions in England, the UCU today began balloting members on possible industrial action. If the ballot supports industrial action, UCU’s FE members in England will be asked to begin this with a strike on Thursday 24 April, 2008.
The UCU move is unilateral. There has been no consultation with the other five unions, including ACM, who are party to the joint FE pay claim; and the fear now is that employers will refuse to negotiate until the action is lifted.
Meetings with the employers have been scheduled, and any subsequent pay increase would not take effect until August. The claim is for a 6% increase or £1500, whichever is greater.
UCU are seeking to co-ordinate their action with the National Union of Teachers. The NUT are also balloting for strike action on 24 April, in pursuit of their pay claim for school teachers.
