Weymouth College UCU members call off strike
Staff at Weymouth College who belong to the University and College Union have now accepted a pay offer from employers
Staff at Weymouth College have called off a strike planned for today.
The industrial action by members of the University and College Union was due to a row over pay.
Weymouth College staff will no longer be walking out after accepting a pay offer from their employers.
UCU members at two other colleges were due to walk but strikes have been suspended at City of Bristol College and New College Swindon after management made a late pay offer, which staff are considering.
UCU said that if colleges want to avoid further disruption they need to follow the lead of these colleges and get around the negotiating table.
Staff at 10 other English Colleges are still walking out today.
The union is demanding a pay increase of greater than 5% in an effort to close the school-college pay gap, and after more than a decade of below inflation further education pay increases.
The pay gap between college and school teachers currently stands at £9,000 as staff working in further education have suffered real terms pay cuts of over 30% in the past decade.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: "College leaders are facing strike action and severe disruption because they have refused to negotiate on pay. If they want to avoid further disruption they need to follow the examples of Weymouth, Bristol and Swindon colleges and meaningfully negotiate on wages.
"College staff are some of our most brilliant and dedicated educators, but they have seen a real terms pay cut of over 30% in the past decade. Another below inflation offer of 1% is completely unacceptable. Staff have given notice of up more days of strike action this term and will be walking out again unless they see improved pay offers. This can be resolved, but that is in the hands of employers."