Colchester Sixth Form College teachers will strike over pay

Sixth form college tutors who are members of the National Education Union, one of the two main teacher’s unions in England, are set to strike on Wednesday, November 30.

The strikes will also coincide with lecturer strikes taking place at the University of Essex.

It is expected this will include a sizable number of staff, with students only being affected if their subject leader is a member of the National Education Union.

The other main teacher’s union, NASUWT, is also currently holding a ballot as to whether or not teachers should strike for pay, meaning there could be a second strike this year, from a separate group of sixth fForm tutors.

Out of the national union's pool, 63 per cent of tutors voted, with a landslide 88.5 per cent voting for strike action affecting sixth form colleges across the country.

Union leaders say college teachers have seen a 20 per cent real terms pay cut since 2010.

On the strikes, Independent councillor and History sixth form college tutor and NEU representative for the Colchester Sixth Form College, Mark Goacher, said the pay rise is long overdue.

He said: “I hope that the Government listen to the result of the ballot and show more flexibility on pay so that the strike isn’t needed.

“We hope they will listen to the result, it is a democratic decision. The turn out was in the 60 per cent, of which almost 90 per cent voted for strike action.

“The news came out only yesterday evening, NEU has balloted for sixth form tutors who have voted for strike action. There is also a ballot for schoolteachers on going.

“The strike is happening to raise awareness of the general pay situation. Sixth form tutors have had a real terms pay cut every year since 2010.

“The NEU chose November 30, as it coincides with a nationwide university lecturer strike on the same day.

“This is the first indication of how things are going. I imagine that separate unions will have future strikes.”