FURTHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT 24.2.12

1.       LESSON OBSERVATION POLICIES

There is now clearly a new national wave of attacks underway. The national guidance on Lesson Observations which was recently sent out is invaluable for branches. (if you do not have this  please contact me and I’ll forward it to you). How to deal with ‘walkthroughs’ is an important aspect of this. Westminster Kingsway pioneered the tactic of boycotting observations – and after 2 years, won a victory. Now 3 other London colleges are taking boycott action and 3 more are in dispute.  

In Strode College they are trying to introduce a “critical friend” policy – sounds positive until you discover that their critical friend has to be their Head of HR!!!!

For Yorkshire and Humberside, I intend attempting to collate all the existing policies so that all branches know what happens throughout the region.

2.       SICK PAY/SICKNESS ABSENCE POLICIES

In some colleges there is a proposal  to cut contractual sick pay. Cornwall College, for example, has announced its intention to cut to 3 months full  and 3 months half pay.

Elsewhere, there is in some areas a tightening up of sickness absence policies including the more widespread use of the Bradford Factor. Wakefield College in our region was the first to impose this, and I will be asking the branch for a report on its implications which I will circulate.

3.       NUT 6^th FORM ACTION.

On Thursday 23^rd the NUT commenced strike action over pay and poor funding in 6^th Form Colleges.  We agreed to send a message of support from UCU and urged branches/regions to link up with local 6^th Form Colleges.

4.       2012-13 PAY CLAIM

We agreed that our proposal to the joint unions should be for a 5% pay increase.  To be submitted early April. The pay gap with schoolteachers is on average 6.8%. UCU is producing a Pay Charter which will be ready for the launch of the pay claim.

5.        INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES

Both Richmond College and Croydon College are in dispute over redundancies with potential action to follow. The funding allocation has had a 12% cut so it is quite likely that there will be more redundancy threats to come as colleges get their funding allocations.

In our region, as reported at the last Regional Meeting, Bradford College is making one lecturer compulsorily redundant. The branch has voted to go into dispute over this. I raised the issue at the FEC meeting  and the FEC chair will be contacting the branch to see what support the national union can give the branch.

6.       WORKFARE, JOBS and EDUCATION pamphlet

The meeting congratulated the Right To Work campaign for its successful protest against TESCO for its participation in the Workfare Scheme (unpaid work experience!) Agreed to support the Boycott Workfare Day of Action on Sat. March 3^rd, protests on March 14^th for the next unemployment figures and on Budget day.

Branches were also urged to use the campaigning pamphlet JOBS AND EDUCATION that the union has produced. Barnsley College is about to do this and I’ll circulate both what we do, and an evaluation of its success.