Members are organising and building branches as employers paper over huge problems.
As GS I will commit to amplifying members' voices in FE & year round resourcing of campaigns, bargaining & policy work to build leverage and members' confidence in collective action.
#RespectFE
5/5
Problems faced by our members in Further Education go far beyond 8 "hold-out" employers in England
FE staff have for too long been made to feel like the poor relation in the education sector, with pay far below staff doing equivalent work in schools accompanied by crushing workload
#RespectFE
4/5
On the picket line last week, Myerscough College strikers told me that last year, while increasing SMT pay, the college "offered" staff an insulting 0% and a food bank, ie no meaningful action on pay or workload. This year their pay offer is delayed until January!
#RespectFE
3/5
Stories shared on #UCU FE picket lines last week reflect widespread crushing exhaustion from worsening conditions, de-professionalisation and years of staff being undervalued by employers and governments for the vital education & support they bring to students & communities.
#RespectFE
2/5
Last week striking #UCU Further Education members at 8 colleges in England walked out to demand action on intense erosion of pay and working conditions at the root of a recruitment and retention crisis which threatens our members' health and damages students' learning experience.
#RespectFE
1/5
Another shot of the picket line full of people in brightly coloured outdoor Big Coats and quite a lot of UCU pink caps and beanies, some have their arms up and lots of smiles. Lots of strike placards, including a home made one that reads "FAIR PAY SO WE CAN STAY", and another "SEN TEACHING ASSISTANTS , MIN WAGE, NO PAY STRUCTURE". Many dogs! Weather a bit grey but members look resolute!
Our Further Ed members are at breaking point.
Myerscough College could be transformed by sensible management decisions that value our members' care for students, expertise, passion & professionalism.
The college - sitting on large reserves - can afford it.
We demand they #RespectFE
#UCU
4/4
Picket line lineup of dogs! With sign in foreground that reads "OUR PAY IS APPAWLING" with paw prints.
When you lose excellent staff, remaining staff are *even more* overworked.
Staff take work home, exhausted.
Members across all subjects told me class & group sizes are so big that the quality of student experience suffers.
There is a recruitment AND retention crisis.
#RespectFE #UCU
3/4
Shot of picket line on grass verge with lots of dogs visible including a brown and white spaniel pulling towards the camera and other dogs all looking in the same direction. Members smiling in UCU caps all around.
Speaking with members it's so clear what difference a proper offer on pay and working conditions would make to staff & students.
Our members LOVE what they do but are being deprofessionalised, disrespected and demoralised by failures in leadership.
So people leave...
#RespectFE #UCU 2/4
Picket line full of people in brightly coloured outdoor Big Coats and quite a lot of UCU pink caps and beanies. Lots of strike placards, including a home made one that reads "FAIR PAY SO WE CAN STAY", and loads of dogs also. Weather a bit grey but members look resolute!
Strong Myerscough UCU picket this morning!
Day 2 of #UCUstrike on pay & conditions
Last yr: large SMT payrise but 0% for staff + foodbank
Now: delayed pay offer for academic staff, *nothing* but April NLW statutory rise NLW for Independent Learning Assistants
#RespectFE #UCU
1/4
