Strike warning over low pay in North West Colleges

THE University and College Union (UCU) have warned the leaders of Colleges in the North West that strike action is on the cards unless staff pay demands are met. Over 1,000 UCU members at:- Hopwood Hall, Bury, Burnley, Oldham, The Manchester, and City of Liverpool Colleges, were asked in a consultative ballot whether they were willing to take strike action in support of an:- 'inflation plus' pay claim. They overwhelmingly turned out to vote yes. A consultative ballot is the 1st step on the path to industrial action. UCU will move to a statutory industrial action ballot, and potential strike action, unless its demands are met. If strikes were to take place over 40k students could be impacted. UCU is demanding that the Colleges increase pay by at least the level of inflation for 2021/22. This would mean pay increases of at least 8.5%. Since 2009 pay in further education has fallen by 35% in real terms and the gap between school and College teachers stands at around ₤9k. The UK Government has now announced an 8.4% increase in funding targeted at:- 16 to 19 year olds. This is the biggest rise in funding for further education in more than decade and comes after ₤240m was announced in 2018. The Union said that the 7 North West Colleges now need to do the right thing and invest in their employees so that staff can meet the steep rise in the cost of living. It said that if management refuse to do the honourable thing and pay staff more, then the union would be forced to move to industrial ballots for strike action. UCU Regional Official Martyn Moss said:- "College staff work incredibly hard to support students but have endured more than a decade of real term pay cuts. Due to soaring inflation they now face a cost of living crisis. We believe these Colleges can afford to pay staff more. Management need to do the right thing and negotiate with us and give staff a decent pay rise or they risk industrial ballots and potential strike action."
 

College	Turnout	Yes Vote to Strike Action
Hopwood Hall College	64%	92%
Bury College	70%	71%
Burnley College	60%	84%
Oldham College	68%	75%
The Manchester College	65%	79%
City of Liverpool College	71%	70%

Trainee Teacher Shortlisted for National Award

IN March 2022, the English Hair and Beauty Awards of 2022 will celebrate the best professionals and businesses within the ever thriving hair and beauty industry. The awards show, taking place in Manchester, will be a night to remember for Hugh Baird University Centre Teaching student Andrew Manion, who has been shortlisted for the Hairstylist of the Year award. Andrew, aged 38 from Liverpool, achieved a degree in Creative Make Up Design and Practice at the Hugh Baird University Centre and is now studying for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).

Andrew is no stranger to the English Hair and Beauty Awards, having won their Local Salon of the Year award in 2019 and 2020. Andrew said:- "It feels incredible to be nominated, especially after the last 2 years. 3 weeks after receiving the local salon award in 2020, we had to close to the Covid19 Pandemic. It which was devastating for me and the business. I'm incredibly humbled and excited to be shortlisted for the as Hairstylist of the Year award this year."

Andrew is due to complete his PGCE this year and he is currently undertaking his teaching placement at Hugh Baird College. Andrew continued:- "I've been a student at Hugh Baird University Centre for about 5 years now and I absolutely being a student here. The support I have received from my tutors has been nothing but amazing. My tutors have inspired me to become a teacher. 1 of the best things about teaching is seeing the students' progress and fulfil their ambitions. It's great to be a part of their journey."

For more information about Hugh Baird University Centre and please go to:- HughBaird.AC.UK.