By Alison Gaughan, Kirklees College UCU (personal capacity)
There’s a feeling of déjà vu in FE in England. Last year we were calling for a strong campaign to include a national ballot for industrial action on pay and workload, and this year we are still calling for the same thing. All we have seen is a weak and poorly-organised campaign by the UCU leadership.
The ‘New Deal for FE’ campaign, based on asking politely for a pay rise, has largely fallen on deaf ears. The tactic of ‘let’s see what a Labour government will give us’ has yielded very little. Meanwhile, adult education funding is being cut – again!
The only way to get more from this Labour government is through national industrial action. The much higher pay rises offered to junior doctors and rail workers was offered for a simple reason – they weren’t afraid to use their national action mandates and organise effective strike action.
FE was, of course, left out of the teachers’ deal. But instead of joining our NEU comrades in non-academised sixth forms in balloting for action, UCU did next to nothing. Sixth form staff did win some concessions, but they could have won more had they continued.
The indicative ballot might be a step in the right direction, but it’s still too little too late. If this round leads to a full ballot, it will not happen until well into the autumn term. Socialist Alternative members in UCU urge delegates to vote for motions calling on the leadership to hurry up and get on with national action.
It is more important than ever that colleges in England campaign for national bargaining. In Wales and Northern Ireland where national bargaining exists, we have seen better pay increases in the sector, while we continue to lag further and further behind schools and sixth forms.
While the employers work together in a race to the bottom, we must unite and fight to restore what we deserve. FE strikes will only make national news if they are nationally coordinated.
