UCU: FE campaigning priorities in England

Motion

Motion text: Conference congratulates members, reps and regional offices for progress on narrowing pay differentials with schoolteachers and achieving greater convergence of pay across colleges in England, over the last two years.
It notes however:
the continuing pay gap of at least 6. 5%
national rates are not applied in all institutions
unacceptable workloads and levels of casualisation
inadequate and unstable funding leading to continuing redundancies.
Conference is alarmed at government proposals for demand-led funding, threatening significant privatisation, and the destruction of college infrastructure, redundancies, greater casualisation, and breakdown of national pay rates.
UCU must mount a vigorous campaign, including a national demonstration and strike action where necessary, against attacks on FE as a public service and for the continuing improvement of pay and conditions. Success depends on strong branches. It is vital that the union continues and increases the drive to strengthen workplace organisation and membership including organising support through regional offices.
In the event of a pay offer for 2007-8 which either imposes a pay freeze or fails to narrow the gap with teachers, Conference instructs the FEC/NEC to organise a one-day special sector conference at the earliest opportunity (and by no later than September 2007) to determine the union's response.