Staff at Manchester College strike over low pay

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Staff at one of the country's biggest further education colleges are striking as part of a row over pay. Manchester College's University and College Union (UCU) members began 12 days of industrial action on Monday (May 15) after backing the move overwhelmingly in a ballot.

It comes after a pay offer of 2.7% - which the UCU say is the lowest for colleges in the North-West - was rejected by members against a backdrop of a cost of living crisis.

The college, which has a number of campuses around the city, said they have put in place contingency arrangements to minimise disruption to their students, and added they are 'eager to reach a pay settlemet at the earliest opportunity'. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community Strikes are currently set to continue between May 22 and May 26, and on June 5 and June 7.

UCU regional official Matt Arrowsmith said that Manchester College is 'financially healthy' and 'can afford to pay much more'. "Staff always have the students' best interests at heart and only take action as a last resort," he said in a statement. "We have seen so many colleagues leave and it is difficult to prepare students for summer exams and assessments in this uncertain environment.