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Wolverhampton College staff offered 1.25 per cent pay rise as row continues

College staff in Wolverhampton have been offered an "insulting" 1.25 per cent pay rise – despite demanding a five per cent increase.

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Workers at the college demand fair pay

Workers from Wolverhampton College's three sites, along with union officials, turned out for a protest at the Metro One campus this morning.

Members of the University an College Union (UCU) union are asking for a five per cent increase or £1,500 – whichever is greater.

A meeting is scheduled for Friday, with school bosses in a bid to break the deadlock.

Workers across the country were balloted over strike action in December – with 78 per cent voting in favour.

'We want a fair pay rise'

Adam Dwight, a lecturer in English at the college, said: "We've had people here earning the minimum wage, so we've got workers from all parts of the college.

"We only want a fair pay rise.

College staff take to the Metro One campus in a dispute over pay

"If we're going to open a new college we need to introduce and keep high quality staff and for that we need a pay rise.

"We all feel really strongly about this and we would much rather be in the classroom.

"We're all committed to the students but there comes a time when we have to stand up to the issue."

UCU's regional official Anne O'Sullivan (left) rallies the protesters

The pay rise, according to protesters, would only start mid-way through the academic year – and not be backdated.

Mr Dwight, 49, who works at the Paget Road and Wellington Road campuses, said: "I've worked at the college for 23 years and this is the first time I've done anything like this.

"It's not something we want, but we felt it was something we needed to do."

Workload

UCU's branch development organiser Lesley Foley said: "Lecturers are facing more and more classes and a heavier workload.

"Further Education lecturers are sick to death of being the Cinderella of the education world.

"Management at Wolverhampton College have refused to come to the table.

"They've treated lecturers at Wolverhampton with complete disrespect."

College staff take to the Metro One campus in a dispute over pay

It follows protests from workers across the Paget Road, Wellington Road and Metro One campus, over three days.

Anne O'Sullivan, regional official for UCU, said: "We would think that the principal would actually take a lead in negotiations on half of the college but he is conspicuous by his action.

"Bearing in mind I wrote to him in June and the first meeting is this week.

"He has been very backward in coming forward.

"There's a huge gap in between what the top people earn.

"Wolverhampton College has made no pay increase at all last year.

"It's insulting."

'Not affordable'

Karen O'Reilly, assistant principal at Wolverhampton College, said the pay rise was something the college could not afford.

She said: "The UCU is seeking a substantial pay increase increase for tutors which we simply cannot afford.

College staff take to the Metro One campus in a dispute over pay

"Our offer of a 1.25 per cent uplift is a figure that the college deems affordable and would take lecturer salaries to over £37,000 per year which is what the UCU have demanded.

"As we have said before, there is little money in the further education sector to fund salary increases, unlike in schools where recent pay rises have been funded by the government.

"We can confirm that a further meeting will take place with the UCU later this week and we will be working towards a resolution of this ongoing issue."