Potential Strikes Loom as Sixth Form College Teachers Vote for Pay Action
NASUWT union members support industrial action amid ongoing pay disputes in England’s sixth form colleges.
Teachers in 23 sixth form colleges in England may face walkouts after a ballot conducted by the NASUWT teaching union resulted in a significant majority supporting strike action in pursuit of higher wages.
A turnout of 56% in the ballot led to the decision, meeting the necessary threshold for industrial action.
The conflict arises from differing pay offers between academised sixth form colleges and non-academised institutions.
The UK Government, as part of its budget announcements last year, pledged a fully-funded 5.5% pay rise for teachers in schools across England starting September 2024. In contrast, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) proposed a lower pay increase of 3.5% for non-academised colleges for the period from September 2024 to March 2025, with a subsequent adjustment to 5.5% from April 2025.
Teachers in academised sixth form colleges, however, are slated to receive the full 5.5% pay rise from September 2024, creating a disparity that has prompted responses from unions representing educators.
Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, emphasized the expectation of fair treatment across all educational institutions, stating that it is 'simply unacceptable' for teachers performing the same roles to receive differing pay.
He indicated that college employers could avoid industrial action by agreeing to provide the full 5.5% backdated pay increase that NASUWT members are seeking.
Furthermore, this potential action follows several days of strike activity conducted by members of another teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), which has already initiated eight strike days at 32 non-academised sixth-form colleges since November 2022. Recently, the NEU postponed two planned strike days as they consider a pay offer from the SFCA.
In January 2023, NASUWT commenced a ballot among more than 1,800 members in both academies and non-academies to gauge support for industrial action over pay issues.
The call for action is an attempt to address grievances regarding pay equity.
Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the SFCA, has criticized the NASUWT’s decision to seek industrial action in this context, suggesting it is 'confusing and disappointing' given that teachers in 16-19 academies will receive the desired pay increase.
He contends that non-academised colleges lack the financial capacity to match the pay package offered to academies unless they secure additional funding.
The Department for Education echoed concerns regarding the payment discrepancies, articulating the government's commitment to enhancing further education.
A spokesperson affirmed the vital role of educational institutions in skill development necessary for economic growth and noted an allocation of £300 million in the October Budget for further education.
This current dispute underscores ongoing challenges in the educational sector, particularly surrounding teacher compensation and funding allocations, as negotiations continue among relevant stakeholders.
A turnout of 56% in the ballot led to the decision, meeting the necessary threshold for industrial action.
The conflict arises from differing pay offers between academised sixth form colleges and non-academised institutions.
The UK Government, as part of its budget announcements last year, pledged a fully-funded 5.5% pay rise for teachers in schools across England starting September 2024. In contrast, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) proposed a lower pay increase of 3.5% for non-academised colleges for the period from September 2024 to March 2025, with a subsequent adjustment to 5.5% from April 2025.
Teachers in academised sixth form colleges, however, are slated to receive the full 5.5% pay rise from September 2024, creating a disparity that has prompted responses from unions representing educators.
Patrick Roach, General Secretary of NASUWT, emphasized the expectation of fair treatment across all educational institutions, stating that it is 'simply unacceptable' for teachers performing the same roles to receive differing pay.
He indicated that college employers could avoid industrial action by agreeing to provide the full 5.5% backdated pay increase that NASUWT members are seeking.
Furthermore, this potential action follows several days of strike activity conducted by members of another teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), which has already initiated eight strike days at 32 non-academised sixth-form colleges since November 2022. Recently, the NEU postponed two planned strike days as they consider a pay offer from the SFCA.
In January 2023, NASUWT commenced a ballot among more than 1,800 members in both academies and non-academies to gauge support for industrial action over pay issues.
The call for action is an attempt to address grievances regarding pay equity.
Bill Watkin, Chief Executive of the SFCA, has criticized the NASUWT’s decision to seek industrial action in this context, suggesting it is 'confusing and disappointing' given that teachers in 16-19 academies will receive the desired pay increase.
He contends that non-academised colleges lack the financial capacity to match the pay package offered to academies unless they secure additional funding.
The Department for Education echoed concerns regarding the payment discrepancies, articulating the government's commitment to enhancing further education.
A spokesperson affirmed the vital role of educational institutions in skill development necessary for economic growth and noted an allocation of £300 million in the October Budget for further education.
This current dispute underscores ongoing challenges in the educational sector, particularly surrounding teacher compensation and funding allocations, as negotiations continue among relevant stakeholders.
