Kirklees College lecturers to strike next week

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) Kirklees College branch will walk out on Tuesday December 3 as part of their campaign for fair pay.

The union said that Further Education lecturers have waited four years for a pay rise, resulting in an effective cut of 15 per cent in real terms.

UCU Regional Official (FE) for Yorkshire & Humberside, Julie Kelley said: “If we don’t demonstrate opposition to austerity policy which in turn has reduced colleges’ ability to pay at least inflationary pay increases then the silence will be interpreted as acquiescence – and the consequences will be more work, less pay and so on.”

Kirklees College said it will open as usual across all its centres, including Dewsbury.

Students due to take exams, application interviews or classes are being advised to come in as usual.

Peter McCann, principal at Kirklees College said: “We are in a position to be able to open to students as usual on Tuesday. The strike is a national strike rather than a local dispute, and although a minority of students in our specialist foundation learning department will be affected, the vast majority of students will remain unaffected.

“We must maximise success for our current students and make sure that there is minimal disruption.”