NEU and UCU Demand Fair Pay and Better Conditions Amid Education Cuts

Strikes Highlight Urgency of Addressing Low Pay in Further Education

Teachers at 32 non-academised sixth-form colleges are set to strike from January 7-9 in their fight for a pay increase. While academised colleges received a 5.5% pay rise for 2024-25, non-academised colleges have been given no funding for pay increases despite a 97% strike mandate in November.

Lecturers from the National Education Union (NEU) began striking on December 3-4 and continued with additional strikes starting December 13. Hundreds joined picket lines in cities like Liverpool, Birmingham, and London. This marks the first major industrial action by education workers since the Labour Party's summer general election win. On November 28, the NEU held a rally outside the Department for Education in London, with hundreds protesting for fair pay. Teachers chanted slogans and voiced disapproval of Labour Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Skills Minister Jacqui Smith. NEU members also protested outside Chancellor Rachel Reeves's office in Leeds.

At the demonstration, teachers told FE Week they initially thought the DfE had made an error in excluding them from the pay award, with some speculating that it might be a tactic to pressure sixth-form colleges to become academies. Ian Morton, an accounting teacher at WQE and Regent College in Leicester expressed disappointment, stating that even the Tories hadn't taken such actions. He expected better from a Labour government and found the decision, which he believed was intentional, deeply troubling.

The NEU claimed that teachers in academised sixth-form colleges were wrongly categorized under the School Teachers Pay and Review Body, separating them from non-academised colleagues. They argued that the government's decision undermined long-standing pay bargaining arrangements with the SFCA, but the government’s decision to differentiate between academy and non-academy colleges had undermined this system. The SFCA is seeking a judicial review of the government’s September 2024 pay review decision, arguing that reconsidering the pay award for colleges could prevent disruption to students' education caused by the strike. Daniel Kebede, NEU general secretary, told BBC Radio 4 that teachers would enter Christmas without a pay award and that an additional £15 million in funding was needed to resolve the issue. He emphasized that the strike action should serve as a "wake-up call" to DfE ministers and that the NEU would not back down.

Despite Kebede's claims, some argue that the NEU leadership is known for "backing down," as shown in past actions. A recent WSWS article criticized public sector union leaders for their response to government cuts and inadequate pay deals. Labour's announcement of significant cuts exposes union leaders' false claims that voting Starmer in would reverse years of cuts. Sixth-form college teacher pay has fallen 29.5% since 2010, with similar declines in state school and university lecturers' salaries. The 5.5% pay increase offered is seen as insufficient given these losses.

The NEU and UCU have been criticized for failing to coordinate efforts to address the decline in pay and working conditions for FE teachers. This was evident during the 2022-23 strike wave, when union leadership undermined the efforts of NEU and UCU members, alongside millions of other workers, fighting for pay raises to reverse years of cuts. In the ongoing dispute, it has been noted that neither the UCU nor NEU leaderships are working to unite struggles across further education (FE). However, it is argued that worker unity is crucial to prevent further wage deterioration. Under Starmer's Labour government, it is claimed that employers are intensifying attacks on education workers, with the trade union bureaucracy's cooperation.

In November, Times Higher Education reported that 10,000 university jobs are at risk, with over 140 universities planning redundancies in 2025. Dr Liesbeth Corens, a senior lecturer in early modern history, noted that at least 77 universities have announced cuts, describing it as a widespread "slaughter" of jobs and courses. The Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) has reportedly offered pay increases of 2.7 to 5.2 per cent, seen as inadequate given recent real-terms wage losses. The potential to unite education workers' struggles over issues like low pay, unpaid work, and casualization has never been greater. However, achieving this requires workers to organize rank-and-file committees to oppose wage restraint and funding cuts imposed by the government and supported by trade unions. The strikes highlight the need for fair pay, better working conditions, and sustainable funding for all educational institutions.

Editor’s Note:

The ongoing strikes by teachers at non-academised sixth-form colleges underscore a significant disparity in pay and funding within the education sector. Despite a strong mandate for industrial action and widespread support from educators, the government's decision to exclude these colleges from the pay increase awarded to academised institutions has fueled frustration and discontent. The NEU's efforts to secure fair pay for its members highlight the broader challenges faced by education workers, including declining wages, inadequate funding, and the need for greater unity among unions. The situation is further complicated by the Labour government's recent cuts and the looming threat of job losses across universities. The potential for 10,000 job cuts in higher education, coupled with insufficient pay increases, underscores the urgent need for systemic change and better support for educators. The NEU and UCU's struggle to coordinate efforts and unite workers across the sector highlights the importance of solidarity and collective action in addressing these issues.

Skoobuzz believes that the success of these efforts will depend on the ability of unions and educators to come together and advocate for meaningful change in the face of ongoing challenges.