Holy Cross College in Bury is one of a number Sixth Form Colleges in the North West to be affected by strike action this week.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) at the college will walk out on Wednesday, November 30 along with teachers from 15 other institutions across the region.

NEU members have voted to take strike action in response to what they describe is an inadequate pay offer from the Sixth Form Colleges Association (SFCA), and which is below inflation.

A total of 88.5 per cent voted yes in the statutory ballot.

NEU sixth form teachers say that ‘enough is enough’ and are calling on the Secretary of State for Education to fully fund their pay demand of an inflation-plus rise.

Peter Middleman, Regional Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The Chancellor’s latest budget statement on 17 November did nothing to address the problems with historic low-pay and under-funding in the Post-16 sector.

“Like in primary and secondary schools, dedicated professionals in sixth-form colleges, who are preparing young people for the world of further study, vocational advancement and a challenging modern economy are being rewarded for their efforts with the largest real-terms pay cut in living memory.

“This is something our members are simply unwilling to tolerate from a government of millionaires and billionaires.

“The strength of the mandate for the strike speaks volumes: enough is enough.

“If the government led by Rishi Sunak is serious about a post-Brexit and post-pandemic recovery being based on rich-knowledge and high-skills, we need to see immediate evidence that they are prepared to release significant funding in order to help save the sector and ensure current and future generations have the same choice and opportunity for study that those presiding over the sector had in their own teenage years.”

These are the colleges affected by the strike action:

• Ashton Sixth Form College, Darnton Road, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 9RL

• Aquinas College, Nangreave Road, Stockport, SK2 6TH

• Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Park Road West, Claughton, Wirral, CH43 8SQ

• Blackpool Sixth Form College, Blackpool Old Road, Blackpool, FY3 7LR

• Bolton Sixth Form College, Town Centre Campus, Dean Road, Bolton, BL3 5BU

• Cardinal Newman College, Lark Hill Road, Avenham, Preston, PR1 4HD

• Carmel College, Prescot Road, St Helens WA10 3AG

• Holy Cross College, 169 Manchester Road, Bury, BL9 9BB

• Loreto College, Chichester Road, Hulme, Manchester, M15 5PB

• Oldham Sixth Form College, Union Street West, Oldham, OL8 1XU

• Priestley College, Loushers Lane, Warrington WA4 6RD

• Rochdale Sixth Form College, College Road, Rochdale, OL12 6HY

• St John Rigby RC Sixth Form College, Gathurst Road, Orrel, Wigan, WN5 0LJ

• Sir John Deane's College, Monarch Drive, Northwich, CW9 8AF

• Winstanley College, Winstanley Road, Billinge, Wigan, WN5 7XF

• Xaverian College, Lower Park Road, Manchester, M14 5RB

Holy Cross College have been approached for a comment.