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2h ago

UCU to Ballot 10,000 Staff at 68 Colleges in England Over Pay and Workload

Unions seek a 10% or £3,000 rise against a 4% recommendation, citing staff losses plus strained budgets.

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Overview

  • Ballots open on 13 October and close on 17 November, with the UCU warning of serious disruption if demands are not met.
  • The action is backed by the NEU, GMB, Unison and Unite as part of a coordinated push on pay and conditions.
  • Union claims include parity with school teacher pay within three years, a £30,000 minimum starting salary, national workload agreements and binding national bargaining.
  • The Association of Colleges recommended a 4% pay rise for 2025/26, arguing many colleges cannot afford more and acknowledging that 4% would still leave pay uncompetitive.
  • Sector context includes a median college teacher salary of about £38,000—roughly 15% below schools—alongside IFS findings of past funding declines and a £1.2bn-a-year FE pledge by 2028/29 that would not restore 2010 levels.