BURY College narrowly avoided strike action today after union members accepted a deal to increase pay.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) voted to accept a pay increase of around six per cent, triple the initial offer made by college leadership.

Staff will receive a three per cent pay increase and a one-off £1000 lump sum after agreement from 75 per cent of college union members.

Speaking to the Bury Times last week, the college’s UCU Branch Secretary, Salma Bhuta said the original offer would have left staff with “debts and financial difficulties we can’t afford.”

The Bury College UCU branch has announced that membership has increased by a third.

 

 

Salma Bhuta said, "After a productive day at ACAS l, UCU would like to announce that an offer has been made by the college.

"The Bury College deal is the best in the FE sector so far. It is a tripling of the original offer from two per cent from the employer. It applies across the board. 

"The deal also moves the pay year back from January 2023 to September this year.

"There is also a timetable commitment to agree improvements in the part two element of the national UCU Pay Claim regarding work conditions, contact hours, holidays etc.

"The branch density at Bury College is now at 70 per cent marking a 33 per cent increase since pay talks began.

"This outcome is welcomed by al all members who voted in their majority to accept the  offer."

Strike action at the college would have taken place on the same day as thousands of students sat their GCSE English exam.

Industrial action at five other colleges across the region has gone ahead after the union announced plans to strike in a dispute over low pay The union is demanding an 8.5 per cent pay increase for staff in response to the cost-of-living crisis.

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: "Our members take huge pride in educating and supporting students, and striking during exams is a last resort, but staff are rightly outraged that their bosses have repeatedly held down pay.

“Now as inflation and energy costs soar, bosses urgently need to raise pay so we can avoid any further disruption.

“The money is there and college leaders need to show they appreciate their staff, we urge employers to do the right thing and give staff a pay rise.”

A spokesperson from Bury College said: “Our staff aspire to provide the best for every student, and this lies at the heart of all that we do. 

"At the same time, our staff’s welfare is of utmost importance and the College has maintained throughout negotiations, the need to balance a desire to make the best offer possible to staff in these difficult times, with its duty to maintain financial sustainability and manage future risk.

"By combining an approach of offering a consolidated pay award of 3% along with a non-consolidated payment in this and the next financial year we feel we have been able to strike that balance.”