Lecturers and civil servants join strike

A day of industrial action will see striking teachers joined by college lecturers and civil servants on Thursday next week.

College lecturers have voted to strike over pay on the same day that schools are hit by the first national teachers’ walk–out in 21 years.

The University and College Union (UCU) said lecturers in more than 250 further education (FE) colleges in England would stage a day’s action.

The Public and Commercial Services union has also announced that more than 100,000 civil servants working in 10 Government departments and agencies will strike on 24 April.
The stoppages will hit JobCentres and benefit offices and will affect other services such as driving tests.

UCU is demanding a 6 per cent pay rise or an extra £1,500 for lecturers, whichever is the greater, for 2008–9.

Regional officer Colin Gledhill described the treatment of FE staff as scandalous and wants college lecturers’ pay to be brought up to the level of school teachers.

Meanwhile, 47 per cent of FE colleges have not introduced new pay scales, despite agreements four years ago, he said.

Mr Gledhill said colleges were losing staff to better paid jobs and added: “There is a constant haemorrhaging of people.

“Some college principals are beginning to admit privately and publicly they are losing valuable members of staff they can’t afford to lose.”

The teachers’ strike is going ahead despite the sudden death, on 5 April, of NUT general secretary Steve Sinnott, who was 56.

The action is expected to close half of all schools nationally - including many in Rochdale.

Date article online: 16/04/2008