FE Lecturers Threaten Action over Pay Agreement

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FE Lecturers Threaten Action over Pay Agreement

2004 Pay Award Latest

The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE), which is the main union representing lecturers in Britain's further education colleges, is threatening industrial action against colleges which fail to implement in full the 2003 pay agreement. This agreement which was struck between NATFHE and the employers' organisation, the Association of Colleges (AOC), came about as a result of a sustained struggle by college lecturers, including strikes, demonstrations and mass lobbying, aimed at closing the pay gap between them and school teachers.

            The deal was structured over two years and involved three main elements. These were a 3% pay increase from August 1, 2003, followed by a further 3% from August 1, 2004 and, most importantly, the introduction of new pay-scales for FE lecturers from August 1, 2004. The new pay-scales were intended to move lecturers' pay significantly towards that of school teachers, although they did not achieve the lecturers' stated goal of parity with school teachers. The introduction of new FE pay-scales represented a significant step forward for lecturers and was, undoubtedly, the main reasons why FE lecturers voted for the agreement in 2003.

            However, today, FE lecturers are once again having to consider further industrial action as colleges throughout the country renege on implementing the second stage of the agreement. At a meeting of NATFHE's FE committee at the end of September, it was noted that to date only about 15% of colleges have either implemented or signalled their attention to implement the agreement in full. It was further noted that disputes have already been declared or are likely at 12 colleges and the committee drew up a plan, including national industrial action in December, to pressure recalcitrant colleges into honouring the agreement. NATFHE also noted that many colleges have cited the issue of "affordability" as the main cause preventing their full implementation of the pay deal.

            This dispute which has arisen in the FE sector is not unique. A similar situation occurred with the fire-fighters. It is part of a trend in the public sector for the government and employers to insist on stretching pay deals over two or three years and then when those sections of the deals which favour the workers become due for implementation, all kinds of hurdles are suddenly thrown up. These experiences underline that working people must be vigilant about such deals which they make in good faith, only to be told further down the line that the deal is off. Funding does not exist, they are told. The budget is spent. There is no new money. Then what was the struggle about in the first place?

            FE lecturers and others facing similar situations cannot accept and are not accepting that the issue is budget constraints, and that is the end of the matter. To accept the situation would be for the lecturers to accept that the Colleges have no responsibility and cannot be held accountable for their part of the signed agreements on pay, conditions and other matters. It would be for the lecturers themselves to abdicate their responsibility for the future of further education, and this they will not do. Who decides on these budgets, who decides on what share of the national wealth is to go to education and other social programmes, who sets the priorities, who decides what is “affordable” and what is not? These are vital questions which must be discussed in the course of the lecturers fighting for their just demands.

From Colleges News, Newsletter of NATFHE in Further Education, October 2004

The 2004 pay award has two main elements. A 3% cost of living increase and more significantly the introduction of a new pay spine for all staff with an 8 point salary range for qualified lecturers.

            According to the results of our survey so far, a majority (60%) of colleges have paid or have committed to pay the 3% increase. Only just over 15% have so far agreed to implement the new scales but in most colleges local talks are still continuing or just started on this element of the deal. Progress has been hampered because of the late confirmation of college budgets and the holiday period.

            In a welcome move the AoC have agreed to discuss establishing National Joint Arrangements with NATFHE and the other recognised trade unions to monitor and promote the implementation of the settlement. The AoC are conducting their own survey of colleges with results likely by the end of October.

            The issue of funding continues to bedevil the situation and local employers continue to raise the issue of affordability in local discussions with local branches. NATFHE’s view is that colleges generally can afford the introduction of the new pay spine arrangements, but have made it clear to employers that where genuine funding problems are demonstrated, we are prepared to negotiate local implementation arrangements taking these into account. We hope that National Joint Guidelines can also be drawn up with the AoC to help in such situations.

            But NATFHE will not accept situations where local employers refuse to commit to the implementation of the new pay arrangements or seek to impose unacceptable conditions such as performance related elements or worsening of conditions of service. Disputes have already been declared or are likely in about 12 colleges, and all branches facing the same situation are advised to do likewise.

            The Further Education Committee of the National executive (FEC) has agreed to review the overall situation again in November and if necessary organise national strike action in December across colleges where no progress is being made. An action plan was agreed.

FEC Action Plan Agreed on Friday 24 September 2004

• Promote awareness of structural elements of 2004/5 awards - harmonised spine and 8 point pay range - and the need for branches to actively engage in seeking its implementation – Colleges News, branch officer bulletins and regional newsletters.
• Regional Sector Meetings in week ending 10 October to establish Action Committee’s that will facilitate support for branches and communication between branches and area committees.
• Publicise and praise institutions agreeing to implement.
• Participate in proposed Joint AoC/Trade Union working group to promote implementation of settlement.
• Continue to collect information on implementation
• Branches to update membership records in preparation for possible action
• Where implementation has not taken place, branches to be encouraged to declare disputes and ballot for industrial action.
• Co-ordinate common day of action amongst branches in dispute.
• Agree to plan towards a national aggregated action in week beginning 6 December
• Review situation on 12 November using NATFHE and AoC survey. FEC will receive reports from Regions and will determine dates for ballots and action at the earliest possible dates, if necessary.