Congratulations and thanks to all our members at WKC for this fantastic result. All our hard work and commitment has paid off. 15 Further Education colleges have balloted their members over pay and conditions – and all voted overwhelmingly to take strike action in the Autumn term.

• Capital City College Group (City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College and College of Northeast London): 96% vote for action – 65% turnout. 
• South Thames Group (Merton College, Wandsworth and Tooting College, Carshalton College and Kingston College): 75% vote for action – 60% turnout.
• Lambeth College: 90% vote for action – 65% turnout.
• Croydon College: 93% vote for action – 71% turnout.
• City of Liverpool College: 82% vote for action – 64% turnout.
• New College Swindon: 88% vote for action – 60% turnout.
• Weymouth College: 89% vote action – 62% turnout.
• City College Plymouth: 86% vote action – 58% turnout. 
• City of Bristol College: 94% vote for action – 70% turnout.
• Sheffield College: 84% vote for action – 53% turnout.

UCU branches at CCCG and across these 14 other colleges will now agree dates in the Autumn term to begin our campaign of escalating strike action. UCU’s Further Education Committee has also agreed a plan to implement UCU conference motions calling for a national industrial action ballot over pay and workload to begin in the Autumn term.

You are being asked to consider industrial action – the ballot opened 14^th June.

What is the main issue we are voting on?

In your ballot envelope you will received a detailed insert explaining the below 5 points in more detail. But as a summary:

1.      Pay. We deserve a 3.5% pay rise. Since 2009 AoC pay recommendations have fallen 30% behind inflation and on average FE teaching staff are paid £9k less than school teaching staff.

2.      Restructure and Redundancies. We oppose all CR. We oppose cuts in remission hours of lead tutors and hours relating to teaching, learning and pastoral care. 

3.      Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy. For CCCG to withdraw their current policy and to establish an ungraded observation policy built on peer assessment.

4.      Workloads. To follow Guided Learning Hours, ensure manageable class sizes and employ specialist attendance staff.

5.      Holiday booking agreement. To agree protocols and procedures for booking of staff holidays and use of iTrent

We’ve published the recording of Wednesday’s meeting on Lesson Observations, which was addressed by Matt O’Leary and Martine Ellis. The feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive and if you didn’t have a chance to view this thought-provoking and inspiring discussion live, please find the time to watch the recording soon. The link can be found here:

https://web.microsoftstream.com/video/9f080dc2-baa0-46fa-aff7-9dbf58a434ea

“This meeting notes that there are restructures taking place in 4 areas of WKC: Teaching, Learning and Assessment Team, Additional Learning Support, Tutor Learning Mentors and  Music and Performing Arts. The “consultation” process thus far has been inadequate, one-sided and extremely stressful.

We further note that workloads have increased this year and that staff have responded superbly to the challenges of working during the pandemic. Management state we need to “improve Teaching and Learning” whilst they attempt to cut jobs, creating fear and instability.The CEO has stated that we should be “one cohesive team” and yet has chosen to allow these restructures to go ahead.

We call upon management to halt all restructures immediately, give a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and engage in discussions with UCU to improve working conditions.”

Please don’t forget to vote, if you have not already done so, in the UCU consultative pay ballot, the deadline is Friday 7th May. We need at least a 50% voter turnout.  If you have not so far received a link to vote, please check your spam folder and personal email.  If it still cannot be found please let Regi know asap (regine.pilling@westking.ac.uk).