The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.
UCU FE Reps say 'NO' to the Pay Offer

Why we should reject the pay offer

Like many UCU members across the country we are very disappointed by the decision of the UCU FE sector special pay conference to recommend acceptance of the AoC's 2.7 percent pay offer (3.2% from October). We believe that there is more to be won through determined action in conjunction with other public sector unions.

While we understand our colleagues’ nervousness about further industrial action against the back drop of economic turmoil and recession we believe the narrow vote for acceptance (61 to 54) does not fit with the mood and willingness to fight our members showed so magnificently on 24 April and in London on 9 June.

Many conference delegates were influenced by Unison's overwhelming decision to accept the offer. But we cannot base our strategy solely on the willingness of other FE unions to fight alongside us, as desirable as that may otherwise be.

The 2.7 percent (although, thanks to our members’ action, one of the best offers in the public sector) nevertheless leaves our members facing a pay cut as the government's measure of inflation (CPI) rises towards 5 percent.

The offer is also a long way short of the 5 percent our HE colleagues will receive this Autumn as a result of the UCU's pay battle in that sector.

Acceptance of this deal will leave the UCU unable to join with over half a million teachers and civil servants who begin their industrial action ballots shortly and are moving towards co-ordinated action against the government's pay freeze in November. We forged a powerful alliance with NUT and PCS on 24 April and acceptance of the deal would throw this unity away.

Whatever the outcome of the ballot we join with every delegate in calling for targeted industrial action in those colleges that still refuse to implement the 2003/2004 harmonised pay scales and to campaign for an increase in London weighting.

However we believe that these fights would be greatly strengthened by the continuation of this year’s pay campaign in conjunction with other public service unions.

For all these reasons we urge you to vote **NO** to the pay offer.

Tim Dalrymple - Ealing & Hammersmith West London - Branch Sec
Sean McGuinness - Eailing & Hammersmith West London - Branch Chair
Louis Wood - Ealing and Hammersmith West London - Sec London Region
Richard McEwan - Tower Hamlets Bow Branch - Branch Sec
Mark Winter - Tower Hamlets Bow Branch - Branch Sec
Alison Lord - Tower Hamlets Bow Branch - Branch Chair
Roberto Foth - Tower Hamlets Arbour and Bethnal - Branch Sec
Richard Palser - Tower Hamlets Arbour and Bethnal - HPL Rep
Graham Topley - Lambeth College Branch - Branch Chair
Susan Mcddowell - Lambeth College Branch - Branch Sec
Phil Magee - City and Islington College, Finsbury Park Branch - Branch Sec
Andy Strouthous - City and Islington College, Camden Road - Branch Sec
Simon Korner - City and Islington College, Camden Road Branch - Branch Chair
Zannah Crotty - City and Islington College, Holloway Prison Branch - Branch Sec
Brian Ingham - Richmond College - Branch and London Region Chair
Jon Clay - Richmond College - Membership Secretary/Treasurer
Penny Charles - College of North East London - Branch Chair
Jenny Sutton - College of North East London - Joint Branch Sec
Mark El Kadhi - Croydon College - Joint Branch Sec
Margot Hill - Croydon College - Joint Branch Sec
Pete Green - Westminster Kingsway - Branch Sec
Fiona Bailey - Westminster Kingsway - Branch Chair
Kathy Church - Lewisham College - Branch Sec
Mark Wiliams - Greenwich College - Branch Sec
Alan Barker - New College Nottingham - Branch Sec
Adele Potten Price - Chesterfield - Branch Sec
James Eaden - Chesterfield - Branch Chair
Alison Gander - Nelson and Colne - Branch Chair
Christine Godard - Nelson and Colne - Branch Sec
David Swanson - The Manchester College - Branch Sec
Isabel Brotherston - The Manchester College - Branch Chair
Darren Tolliday - Mid-Cheshire College - Branch Sec
Graeme Balmer - North Trafford College - Branch Sec
Alan McNealie - South Trafford College - Branch Sec
Joel Petrie - Liverpool Community College Liaison Committee - Assistant Secretary
Geraint Evans - Bradford ACE branch - Branch Chair
Richard Miles - Leeds College of Art - Branch Sec
Dave Gibson - Barnsley College - Branch Sec
Graham Mustin - Barnsley College - Asst. Sec
Laura Miles - Yorks and Humberside Regional FE Cttee - Secretary
John Westmoreland - Yorks and Humberside Regional FE Cttee - Chair
Kate Burland - Wakefield - Branch Joint Branch Secretary

PDF Version to use in your FE branch - available here

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