Report from FEC 26th September 2024

The FEC met for the first time this academic year. The FEC considered how to advance the New Deal for FE as part of our England pay claim.

This follows the election of a Labour government in the General Election and the decision not to extend the 5.5% pay award for teachers to FE workers.

Staff unions will meet the AoC later this month at the National Joint Forum (NJF) where they are expected to make a formal recommendation on pay. As well as a special working group meeting to explore introducing binding national negotiations.

The UCU will roll out a series of briefing this month in light of those and outline the nature of our campaign.

We encourage reps and activists to join us at the Defend Post-16 Education under Labours Starmer conference on the 19th of October.

Register here and for updates.

One step forward

It is a step forward that in the committee secretary’s report to the FEC that the emphasis is on a national campaign and securing binding national bargaining. FE England is now the poorest relation of the UK education sector and the only part not covered by binding national sector bargaining. This was actually the rationale given by the government to decline to extend the pay award to FE workers.

It is right that the unions focus is now on securing binding national negotiations (BNN) not just local bargaining. But unfortunately that has not been the case up to now. At the Special Further Education Conference in April the conference was persuaded that now was not the time to prioritise winning national binding agreements. Some on the FEC leadership likened this to chasing unicorns!

Arguments against securing national binding agreements included:

  1. That the AoC has no power to implement a binding framework due to incorporation.
  2. The employers were not interested
  3. Even if those barriers were not there, we can’t take national action because it’s illegal.

Since then, the AoC have agreed to set up a working group to look at the feasibility of implementing a binding national bargaining framework. They are due to present an initial rough costing to staff unions at a meeting this October as a basis to make the case to Government to set up a funded sector bargaining framework. This could be a first step toward a broader aim of establishing national terms and conditions – the employers’ words.

We could have been positioned far better than we are and need to run to catch up to the possibilities of levelling up in England.

Whilst it is early days and not all employers share the same views there is clearly more scope for BNN among employers than some had argued. What is important is it is now recognised now that we need national binding not just going for local deals as the main lever to improve pay and conditions.

It is hoped there can be more traction with the DofE due to the change of government and that can help the union communicate our aims and objectives (a motion was carried to emphasise the need for this work to develop further).

None of this means we will necessarily achieve BNN. It is likely that some form of new bargaining arrangement could be introduced. But will it be favourable to us or the employers? It will be far easier to shape a new binding framework with action now, than try to unpick an unfavourable version later.

A series of campaign briefing this October will roll out the New Deal for FE campaign and report back from meeting with the AoC.

Anger

There is a great deal of anger that FE staff were not included in the 5.5% pay award to teachers.

A motion (below) was brought to the FEC calling for an indicative national ballot to take action if we were not offered the same pay award as teachers.

It was argued that this would take resources away from campaigns, that an indicative ballot must be a prelude to a national statutory ballot and this was not within policy set by the SFEC.

These arguments opposing an indicative ballot seem to miss the point that FE members want their voice heard. This would be complimentary to the New Deal for FE campaign and give us more leverage in talks. Members expect us to act on this outrageous decision.

It is therefore disappointing that the motion tied 9 in favour and 9 against. In such a case the status quo ante prevails and therefore the motion fell. An amendment linked to the motion emphasising our claim as part of an indicative ballot also fell.

As the Committee Secretary point made clear. It is not for us to simply describe the situation; we have to act if we want to change it. Unfortunately, half of the FEC members failed to rise to this challenge again.

Parliament lobby

A rescheduled lobby and MP briefing will take place on Wednesday 23 October 5-7pm. More details with be circulated.

The case for binding national negotiations and petition. For circulation to all members.

Campaign resources.

Adult Community Education (ACE)

A change in government policy for adult community education funding means that the Adult Education Budget (AEB) is now called Adult Skills Fund, published by the education and skills funding agency (ESFA). The focus will be a further shift on skills for jobs and a narrowing of funding for non – qualification learning.  UCU needs to defend a broad-based curriculum offer in ACE and in FE that meets the needs of everyone in our communities, not just those who are seeking and are ready for employment, but also for our pensioners and those with SEND needs. But also for the joy of learning for its own sake! The arts and humanities in ACE and FE as in higher education is under attack – we urgently need to defend arts education.

Conditions and pay for ACE staff since incorporation mean that ACE pay and conditions for ACE staff is chaotic with no nationally agreed binding arrangements. Some staff in local government are on the Green Book and some on the Pink book, some branches have no negotiations at all and no pay award.

For the last few years, we have put in motions to FEC and NEC arguing that this has to change.

We want consultation and a national set of demands such as starting pay to be the same as FE and transferring all staff in ACE on zero hours to decent contracts. As part of this campaign, we are drafting a template letter to all Regional UCU officers to send to the mayors of the devolved local authorities calling for the setting up of local mechanisms to make sure UCU ACE has a voice at the table when terms and conditions are set and a commitment to no zero hours contracts and good work standards

We are calling for all in ACE to attend the ACE meeting on the 6 November 4.00pm online to 5.15pm. Look out for email for a registration link and voice your views on pay and terms and conditions.

Motion 1: Indicative ballot on pay (Fell)

FEC notes:

  • The government is implementing the School Teachers’ Review Body of a fully funded 5.5% pay award for 2024/25, but have stated this will not be extended to FE teachers.
  • This will further widen the pay gap between schoolteachers and FE teachers.

FEC believes:

  • UCU must apply pressure on the government to increase funding for FE pay – this requires national action

FEC resolves:

  • To launch an indicative national ballot of England FE members, asking whether they are willing to take industrial action over pay, if the government refuses to implement the same pay award as offered to the teachers.

Amendment to Motion 1 (Fell)

From FEC resolves. Remove “if the government refuses to implement the same pay award as offered to the teachers” and insert “in pursuit of our pay claim as laid out in the new deal for FE.”

Motion 3: Towards a pay settlement for FE England (Carried)

FEC recognises:

  • UK/devolved governments settled the long-standing, pay-claims of workers who were loud and active in pursuing national campaigns and national action, notably train drivers, school teachers and FE in the rest of the UK
  • The government ignored FE claims in England
  • The AoC has taken no initiative in negotiations other than hiding behind the STRB and the lack of special funding from the government
  • The GS and her team have made strenuous efforts to engage with the SoS Education and have been rebuffed

FEC resolves:

  • UCU should enter an open dialogue with DfE, pressing and planning for new legislation to amend the relationship of Colleges with the DfE, promoting a National FE Service and a National FE Pay scale which Colleges implement as a result of BNN.
  • UCU will report to FEC on these talks with the DfE 

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A majority of the FEC united to oppose the far right. Calling on all members to take to the streets on October 26th and to encourage UCU branches to organise themed learning weeks to celebrate multiculturalism. 

Motion 2: Stop far right multiculturalism and themed learning week (Carried)
 

FEC notes:

  • The terrifying rise of racists and fascists on our streets with Tommy Robinson mobilising marches of thousands.
  • The racist riots over the summer and attempts to set hotels housing refugees on fire.
  • Anti-racists and anti-fascists successfully mobilised against them.
  • FE colleges teach many students who are refugees and migrants, with a large proportion of staff and students from ethnic minorities.

FEC believes:

  • Our colleges must be places that celebrate multiculturalism.
  • As educators within our community, we have an important role to play in stopping the growth of racism and fascism.

FEC resolves to:

  • Call on FE branches to organise a Themed Learning Week this term and to be sent this out in Friday emails.
  • UCU to facilitate the sharing of ideas and resources between FE branches.
  • Call on members to support the SuTR TUC backed counter demonstration on October 26th in Central London.

https://standuptoracism.org.uk

Stop the far right ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protests on Saturday 28th September London – stop the far right – no fascists in London
Stop the far right ‘Unite the Kingdom’ protests on Saturday 28th September London – stop the far right – no fascists in London

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Education and policy

The FEC heard from UCU policy unit on a range of policies. Labour have not made good on their earlier commitments to pause and review around the BTEC reforms. This is an area that urgently needs addressing with limited pause and review not sufficient to stop this disastrous policy.

The issue of GCSE resits for English and maths should also be front and centre of the unions campaigning. 30% of young people leave school without achieving maths and English. The outcomes for college students are at an all-time low. There are many voices now highlighting the harm this policy is doing to young people and the need for a genuine alternative to compulsory GCSE resits.

See here.

Notices

  • Defending Post-16 Education under Starmer’s Labour – a call for participation

Saturday October 19th.

UCU London Region initiated and supported by UCU branches at City and Islington College, Westminster Kingsway College, New City College Poplar branch, Merton College, Chichester College, Kingston College, York College, Lewisham College, Morley College, South & City Birmingham branch, Liverpool University, Liverpool John Moores University, London Metropolitan University, University College London, Imperial College London, Strathclyde University, University of Kent, York St John University, Newcastle University, Royal Holloway University of London, University of Greenwich, University of Dundee, University of Leicester, Brighton University, Royal College of Art, Y&H retired members and others tbc.

Click here for more details and to register.

  • National demonstration. One year on: stop the genocide in Gaza, hands off Lebanon October 5th

https://palestinecampaign.org/events/national-demo-for-palestine-5-october-2024/

  • Workplace day of action ceasefire now 10th October

The TUC conference voted to support a national day of action in workplaces in opposition to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the spread of war.

Call a protest at your workplace.

See also UCU Ceasefire page: https://www.ucu.org.uk/CeasefireNow

  • Solidarity with 5 colleges in North East striking for a decent pay rise

UCU members at Bede Sixth Form College, NETA Training Group, Stockton Riverside College, The Skills Academy, and Redcar and Cleveland College will down tools on Thursday 10 October as part of a long running dispute over pay.

https://www.ucu.org.uk/article/13736/New-strike-date-at-five-North-East-colleges

  • Annual Adult Community Education (ACE) conference

November 6th more details to follow

  • UCU Equality Groups conference

Thursday 28 November – Saturday 30 November

Click here for details and to register.

Peter Evans, Hammersmith, FE LGBT+ Rep
Safia Flissi, South & City College Birmingham FE Women’s Rep
Naina Kent, Hackey Ace, FE UK elected
Richard McEwan, New City College, FE London & East
Regine Pilling, Westminster Kingsway, FE London & East
Sean Vernell, City and Islington College, FE UK elected

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