Pay deal averts Shropshire college strike action
An agreement has been reached that is set to stop staff from a college in Shropshire joining thousands of others from across England in a one-day strike over pay today.
Staff at North Shropshire College have received a small pay rise which is expected to prevent them from taking part in the national walkout.
Lecturers, librarians, technicians, cleaners and caretakers who belong to Unison and the University and College Union (UCU) are among those taking part in the strike.
The protest is against a recommended pay freeze by the Association of Colleges following several years where staff have had low pay rises, resulting in a real-terms pay cut for some of up to 17 per cent.
But Joseph Edwards, spokesman for North Shropshire College, said: "There has been a local pay settlement for staff at the college who have received a small pay rise so there will be no strike action here."
Mr Edwards said individuals could still decide to strike after informing the college, which has campuses in Oswestry, Walford near Baschurch, Shipley near Bridgnorth and the Aspire Centre in Tenbury Wells.
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said: "Some colleges have promised their employees a pay rise but the vast majority are determined not to budge from the zero per cent recommended.
"We urge the association to follow the example of those more enlightened colleges who want to come back to the table to try to resolve this dispute. The real villains in this dispute are government ministers, whose funding cuts over several years have left colleges in dire financial straits. But it shouldn't be further education employees paying the price.
"After years of pay freezes and real terms pay cuts, staff have been left with no choice but to take action to win a fair deal. It's time for the college employers to do the right thing, get back around the table and make a decent pay offer that rewards all college staff for their dedication."
