Pay Offer from AoC “First Step in Bridging Salary Gap” Say Union

The latest pay offer from the Association of Colleges (AoC) has received support and approval from another considerable voice in the union movement.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) has called the offer, of 3% in total with 2% to be paid on 1st August 2006 and a further 1% in February of 2007, a significant step in “breaking down the salary discrepancies between lecturers in FE colleges and school teachers.” The offer has already received the support of the University and College Union (UCU) and is seen as a last offer for consideration in this round of negotiations.

Divided We”¦?

The offer is currently under consideration by the members of all the different unions that make up the Joint Trade Unions. These include the UCU, the ATL, The Association of College Management (ACM), together with the GMB, T & G and Unison. This will result in either a broad spectrum approval, or, should the members reject the deal, industrial action of some sort.

The ATL are committed to improving the salary and working conditions of the professionals dedicated to teaching, in this instance those students within the FE sector. Bearing in mind the trouble encountered when implementing the previous pay award by colleges ““ many have yet to fully implement the agreement from 2004 ““ the National Joint Forum (NJF) will offer assistance to colleges if any individual college has trouble putting the rise into practice.

ATL Confident after Positive Talks

The Head of Pay and Head of FE Pay Negotiations for the ATL, Martin Freedman, said: “These were positive pay talks, and I am confident the colleges now share our view that FE pay is a key factor in the ability of colleges to reach their targets on education and skills. ATL hopes that this united strong message from the FE colleges and trade unions will enable all colleges to start modernising pay and end the perception of lecturers as second-class teachers.”

Mr. Freedman also looked to the future and said: “The real test will be when colleges actually come to implement the increase and pay modernisation. We believe this deal will help end the current industrial relations difficulties in the sector and enable colleges and staff to play their part in the Government’s education agenda.”

Jethro Marsh

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