Strike action

In response to the strike action scheduled by UCU and UNISON for 24 February 2015, Marc Whitworth, Director of Employment Policy and Services at the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: “Strikes are very disruptive for colleges and more importantly for students. The pay recommendation of 0% made by the Association of Colleges reflects the specific financial challenges faced by our members. Colleges are facing increases to pension and national insurance contributions during 2015/16 and this coupled with reductions in funding mean that we have been unable to recommend an unsustainable increase in costs to our college members. “No further dialogue has been scheduled with our union colleagues regarding this cycle of negotiations.”