Teachers at 32 sixth form colleges will strike for three days, demanding better pay.
London: Around 2,000 teachers from 32 sixth form colleges are striking. They want a pay raise that beats inflation. The strike starts on January 29.
The National Education Union (NEU) is organizing a rally in Westminster that same day. They plan two more strike days on February 6 and 7.
Since November, NEU members have walked out for seven days over pay issues. The government announced a 5.5% pay rise for teachers in schools starting September 2024.
However, the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA) offered a lower pay increase of 3.5% for non-academised colleges. They will get 5.5% starting in April.
Teachers in academised colleges will receive the 5.5% raise seven months earlier. In September, the SFCA tried to challenge the government’s pay decision but dropped it after a new funding pledge.
The government promised a £50 million grant for sixth form colleges to help with salaries for the 2024/25 academic year.
NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede expressed disappointment over the ongoing strikes. He believes the government can fix the pay gap between different types of colleges.
Kebede stated that all teachers should be paid equally for the same work. He emphasized the need for fair treatment across the board.
Another union, NASUWT, is also considering strikes for fair pay. They are currently balloting over 1,800 members, with results due by February 10.
Bill Watkin from the SFCA acknowledged the pay issue and mentioned they secured some funding. However, they still need more to match the pay in schools.
He stressed that students should not suffer from the strikes. The focus should be on securing additional funding rather than disrupting education.
A Department for Education spokesperson highlighted their commitment to skills development and the importance of further education in the economy.
