Teachers at 32 sixth form colleges, including seven in Greater Manchester, are set to strike over pay disputes.
Greater Manchester: So, it looks like teachers at 32 sixth form colleges are gearing up for a strike. They’re really frustrated about pay issues, and seven of those colleges are right here in Greater Manchester.
These teachers, part of the National Education Union, are planning to walk out for three days. The dates are January 29, February 6, and February 7. It’s a big deal, with over 2,000 members involved.
The NEU says this strike is a response to the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, not providing enough funding for a decent pay raise. They feel it’s time for a change, especially since teachers in schools are getting a 5.5% pay rise starting September 2024.
Right now, the offer for non-academised sixth form colleges is only 3.5% for the first part of the year, which just doesn’t sit right with them. It’s led to claims of a ‘two-tier pay system’ where some teachers are getting more than others for the same work.
Daniel Kebede, the NEU general secretary, expressed how unfair it is for teachers in non-academised colleges to earn less than their peers in academies. He’s calling for equal pay for equal work, and it’s clear they’re not backing down.
On the other side, Bill Watkin from the Sixth Form Colleges Association is disappointed about the strike. He argues that pay rates have actually gone up by 18% since September 2022, and they’ve made a fair offer. He believes the government needs to step in to prevent further disruption to students’ education.
The government has acknowledged the importance of further education and has provided some extra funding, but it seems like there’s still a long way to go. Meanwhile, another teaching union, NASUWT, is also considering action for fair pay, with their ballot closing on February 10.
It’s a tense situation, and everyone’s hoping for a resolution soon. The students are the ones who might end up suffering the most from all this back and forth.
