Priestley College staff join NEU strike against 'pay cut'

Teachers at the college joined the National Education Union's (NEU) industrial action due to what they call the ‘largest real-terms pay cut in living memory.’

Staff at the college were one of 16 sites across the region to join picket lines today, Wednesday, November 30.

Staff at the sixth form have joined the picket lines with the hope of increasing the pay offer that is on the table (Image: Newsquest)

The NEU voted in favour of the action as a response to an 'inadequate' pay offer from the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA).

Despite the pay offer being between a five and nine per cent increase, this is 'well below' the rate of inflation, and therefore represents a pay cut in real terms.

In total, around 80 sixth forms signed up to the industrial action to fight against ‘historic low pay,' which has seen sixth form teachers experience a 20 per cent real-term pay cut over 12 years.

Peter Middleman, regional secretary of the NEU, said: “The Chancellor’s latest budget statement on November 17 did nothing to address the problems with historic low-pay and under-funding in the post-16 sector.

"Like in primary and secondary schools, dedicated professionals in sixth-form colleges, who are preparing young people for the world of further study, vocational advancement and a challenging modern economy are being rewarded for their efforts with the largest real-terms pay cut in living memory."

Mr Middleman added: "If the Government led by Rishi Sunak is serious about a post-Brexit and post-pandemic recovery being based on rich knowledge and high-skills, we need to see immediate evidence that it is prepared to release significant funding.

"This is in order to help save the sector and ensure current and future generations have the same choice and opportunity for study that those presiding over the sector had in their own teenage years."