Lecturers seek firm salary structure

Further education lecturers have demanded a "substantial" pay increase and a firm national pay structure, writes Harriet Swain.

Lecturers' union Natfhe, which met with employers yesterday, did not specify a salary rise because it claimed recent pay increases had been uneven across the sector. There had been no nationally negotiated settlement for the sector since 1993, when employers tore up "silver book" conditions of employment.

As part of this year's claim, Natfhe is calling for reestablishment of a national pay structure and an independent review of college lecturers' pay and conditions, similar to the review taking place in higher education under Sir Michael Bett.

The union is conducting a survey to measure how individual colleges have been implementing pay rises. Sue Berryman, Natfhe's head of colleges, said:

"Initial returns confirm that colleges are not implementing nationally recommended pay and, if they are, they are not using a national scale." Natfhe claims real-terms pay has fallen by about 4 per cent since incorporation.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has also called for "a substantial increase in salary levels" from August 1. It has called on the Association of Colleges to put pressure on colleges to uphold national agreements.

Unison, GMB and TGWU have submitted a joint pay claim for support staff, asking for 6 per cent or Pounds 600, whichever is greater.