Further education association says that members sold ‘a puppy’ on salary

Unions representing further education lecturers in Northern Ireland are voting for their members on strike action.

The University and College Union (UCU) has claimed that its members have “sold a puppy” on a salary deal by the college employers.

The Sangh claimed that employers had failed to close the “pay gap” with school teachers and deal with the workload.

A spokesperson for the stage of the college employers (CEF) said that he was completely committed to working with the representatives of the Union to carry forward the negotiations in relation to a new salary proposal “.

Both Nasuwt and UCU, who represent the vast majority of further education (Fe) lecturers in Northern Ireland between them, are asking their members to vote on industrial action.

On ballot papers, lecturers are asked to vote for strike action and lack of action.

Teacher in Northern Ireland Recently 5.5% salary proposal for 2024/25 turned downFailure to deal with the growing charge says that the proposal was an important reason to reject the proposal.

He has now started lack of strike in schools.

Payments for FE lecturers are separately interacted with teachers, but the charge is also quoted as an important concern.

Northern Ireland has six Fe colleges with over 63,000 students.

They teach a large range of commercial and educational subjects to a variety of students, and are a major part of the Northern Ireland education system.

But lecturers in FE colleges have often been paid less than teachers in schools.

A salary deal in 2024 FE collegesAnd some grade brought payment equality with teachers.

However, unions have said that parts of that agreement have not been met and that is why they are voting for members for the strike action.

UCU Northern Ireland official Catherine Clarke said that full salary equality was not given to schoolgirls.

“Ten months and employers have failed to carry forward all the non-paying elements of the parity and the deal,” he said.

“Our members took industrial action to accept the proposal of employers, regret that it seems clear that they were sold a puppy.”

He also accused the college employers of “never wishing to save their employees from the growing charge”.

Nasuwt National Officer for Northern Ireland, Justin McComphil also said that college has failed to fulfill the promises made.

“Our members are very disappointed that the college employers have not given their promises last year,” he said.

“Our members were promised an independent examination of salary, all terms and conditions and workload of educational staff.

“This has not happened and our members are not ready to wait for a long time.

“The Nasuwt is calling the minister of the economy to intervene and forced colleges to honor the promises he did last year.”

In a statement to BBC News NI, CEF, who represents FE College leaders, stated that “they are fully committed to work with the representatives of the Union to carry forward a new salary proposal, as well as commitments about the charge”.

The organization said, “The salary proposal is in terms of a very difficult funding scenario for further education.”

“We have written to the representatives of the union to request a meeting as soon as possible.”

He admitted that the work of a group established to deal with the issues of workload for employees was delayed, but he said “he again wrote to the representatives of the Sangh to compromise on the date of meeting as soon as possible”.

The Department of Economy (DFE) is the Stormont Department responsible for further education colleges.

The department said, “Further education college is an employer in itself and thus, the department is not directly involved in conversation with trade unions.”

“We strongly encourage further education between colleges and trade unions to fulfill the commitments of 2023/24 lecturers payment agreement.”

The UCU ballot lasts till 31 March and the Nasuwt ballot lasts till 15 April.