Further strike action will be taken by National Education Union sixth form college teacher members in 7 colleges across the southeast region on Friday 13th December.
Due to the Government’s failure to resolve a clear pay discrepancy in sixth form colleges, 2,000 National Education Union teacher members across 32 non-academised sixth form colleges in England are taking action.
Members in the following southeast region colleges will be taking part in the strike: Barton Peveril Sixth Form College (Eastleigh), Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, Henley College, Itchen College (Southampton), Peter Symonds College (Winchester), The College of Richard Collyer (Horsham) and Varndean College (Brighton).
Pickets will be on held on 13 December from 8am – 9am at each college listed except The Collegeof Richard Collyer (where members have decided to strike, but not to picket)
We had hoped that Government would recognise the injustice caused by the inclusion of teachers in academised sixth form colleges within the Government’s guaranteed funding for the 5.5% teacher pay award but the absence of similar funding for non-academised sixth form colleges. Given the continued absence of guaranteed pay funding, members working in non-academised sixth form colleges are once again taking strike action to ensure they receive an above-inflation pay award consistent with the rest of the profession.
We will be commencing further strike action in the New Year on the following dates unless the Government provides a resolution to this dispute:
Tuesday, 7 January 2025
Wednesday, 8 January 2025
Thursday, 9 January 2025
Commenting on the strike Phil Clarke, South East Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The exceptionally strong turnout for the strike action on 28 November and 3 and 4 December should have been a wake-up call to Government that our members will not back down on this issue. It is simply unjust that teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges are not being guaranteed the funding for a comparable pay award to the 5.5% pay deal seen elsewhere in academised sixth form colleges and schools.
“They do the same job with the same commitment and the same importance. We will never accept a two-tier workforce, and our members must have the same pay.
“The responsibility for these strikes lies with Government not teachers. No teacher wants to be taking strike action. They want to be in classrooms doing what they do best: teaching. We remain as always willing to resolve this dispute with Government. However, in the face of yet more silence our members will continue with their action.
“Government needs to recognise this absurd situation needs to end and that they must quickly address this inexcusable pay divide. Let there be no doubt the strike action will continue into the New Year unless sense prevails, and our members are given the pay they deserve.”
