Congress motions

Motion

Motion title

Pay differentials within the FE sector and deprofessionalisation of FE

Session

2011-2012

Meeting link

FE conference

Meeting date

8 June 2012

Status

Passed

Motion

FE2

Motion text

FE Sector Conference notes:
1. the continued failure of the problems of low FE pay to be addressed
2. the continuing pay gap with other sectors of education
3. attempts to undermine pay levels even further by deprofessionalising the workforce and introducing such posts as instructors/facilitators
4. the increasing gap between many senior staff and main grade lecturers
5. that FE staff work well beyond contractual hours to ensure the quality of the educational experience thus undermining their work/life balance
6. government proposals to revoke the 2007 FE workforce regulations. UCU, has campaigned hard for the current level of professional entry requirements (PGCE level 6). BIS intends to replace this with entry requirements at Level 3/4
7. black workers are disproportionately represented in lower grades and are discriminated against in terms of recruitment, promotion, career progression, job security and pay and conditions.

Conference believes these proposals will:
1. deprofessionalise the workforce
2. result in a general decrease in pay scales
3. lead to variations in skills, experience and pay between institutions and location, thus fragmenting the sector and further enabling privatisation.

FE Sector Conference instructs the FEC to develop a strategy to address these issues as a priority in the next round of pay negotiations. The strategy to include the issues facing black workers in FE.

Congress also condemns the proposed revocation of the 2007 FE Teaching Regulations as stated in the Lingfield Report. Congress is concerned that revocation will lead to a loss of professionalism in the Life Long Learning Sector and therefore instructs UCU Officers to campaign for the Regulations to be retained.

Proposing body

South east region further education committee

Amended

Yes

Allocated to

Further education committee (FEC)

Notes