Ballot for Industrial Action is ON
UNISON and UCU have continued to engage with the employer in good faith but despite many hours of hard work the College have failed to address the serious cost of living issues that our members face.
Last week’s news that RPI inflation has reached 12.1% and interest rates have risen by another 0.75% only serves to underline the inadequacy of their offer of 2.5%
Schools staff have just settled for £1925pa and NHS staff are balloting for action over an award of £1400pa The recent offer to Sixth Form Colleges of 5% with additional weighting for the lowest paid shows that what they are offering is not half enough.
This is not the start of the pay squeeze for staff in the FE college, that has been pleading poverty for years now. In fact Plymouth City College pay at rates below the national college standard and are one of the worst payers in the country with the first 6 points on the pay spine (covering 3 grades) all being the legal minimum wage. Their current offer will mean that number will grow when the rate is updated from £9.50 an hour next April
UNISON have suggested that we learn from the success of the single cash figure offers in local government and in Scotland as a way of weighting towards the lower paid and will be putting a compromise proposal of £1300pa to the employer this week. But this really is a bottom line for us as it represents a below inflation rise even for the low paid.
We have notified the employer that we are balloting for Strike action from 14th November to 5th December and expect to be able to join our UCU colleagues who have been taking action already at the start of next term.
