This week we're getting ready for our strike: demanding better pay, manageable workloads and importantly demanding that our employer supports national binding bargaining.

‍

This will be day 3, 4 and 5 of strike action for UCU members at Capital City College. Due to local issues and to ensure we applied the most pressure - our members decided to take 2 days of strike action in December. The December strikes were solid, after the consultative ballot in May, then the industrial dispute - members wanted to start taking action.

‍

How have we got to here? 

At May's FESC, there was a consensus in the room that we needed to escalate the New Deal campaign. Motions, which I was very proud to support passed 2:1 calling for an escalation of the New Deal for FE. There was a consultative ballot, than an full industrial ballot in the Autumn term - the turnout improved in postal ballot with a 90% Yes vote and, if it had been aggregated, a 50.5% turnout. This was a brilliant result.

‍

A Special FEC was held to discuss the results, at that meeting I tabled a motion arguing that we needed to take strike action in December. If we waited until January, it risked losing momentum and meant branches would be bullied into taking deals by their employers.

‍

Unfortunately, that motion was narrowly lost. The FEC members who voted against the motion, were all FEC reps who were either not in the ballot, pulled out of the ballot or had unfortunately not met the threshold. All the FEC members who were still in the nationally coordinated action, voted for action in December. This was very disheartening, as it failed to listen to the reps from the branches in the dispute.

‍

Nevertheless, UCU at CCC and elsewhere are committed to this strike action. At CCC:

• Our employer has offered 4% - this is a 4% pay rise for all staff including the C-suite job roles. Our CEO is on over £220k, I think it is utterly wrong that they can give them such a pay rise, when are LSA's are earning under £30k in Central London.

• On workload, we have opened up discussions and a Workload Committee has been formed. However we want real action, we have Wellbeing and Workload Protocols, which are useful but don't go far enough.
• On national binding bargaining - our employer has said they are willing to work towards this but they are not willing to put out a public statement in support.

‍

It's a busy time but also super energising - we've had new members join who will be coming to their first ever picket lines, which tend to be pretty noisy and lively.

‍

When we stand together, it really does feel so much better - we're not isoldated and ground down. We stand with our colleagues, catch up with people we never get to chat to because we are always so busy. And it will certainly demonstrate our collective strength to our employer. Solidarity!