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In pictures: UCU college strike

In pictures: UCU college strike

Picket lines have been set up outside colleges today as members of the University and College Union strike over pay

29th January 2019, 2:54pm

Staff At Colleges Across England Have Walked Out On Strike As Part Of University & College Union (ucu) Strikes Over Pay

Staff have walked out at colleges across England after members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted for strike action over pay disputes.

In their 2018-19 pay claim, the unions representing college employees asked for a pay rise of 5 per cent or a fixed increase of £1,500 for staff earning less than £30,000 per year. The Association of Colleges (AoC) made a final offer of a 1 per cent increase, or £250 for staff earning less than £25,000 a year.

The UCU subsequently balloted its members at 110 colleges. Staff at 16 colleges met the 50 per cent turnout threshold for legal strike action to take place.

The strikes at 11 colleges will be for 48 hours from 29 January, while at Leicester College action will be held on 29 and 31 January, and at Kendal College, UCU members will walk out on 29 January and 12 February. The two-day walkout at Hugh Baird College in Merseyside was suspended after an eleventh-hour pay deal was reached. The strike at Coventry College has also been suspended, pending further talks.