'Pay up!' - Shrewsbury college teachers call for salary increase to match academies
College teachers took to the picket lines in Shrewsbury today to demand a pay rise from the government.
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Striking tutors from Shrewsbury College braved the cold outside the London Road and English Bridge campuses to take part in a national day of protest.
They stood holding placards saying: “Pay up. Sixth form colleges demand pay justice!”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson awarded teachers in primary and secondary schools an above-inflation pay deal in September, as recommended by the pay review body - with an additional £1.2bn given by the government to help fund the increase.
However, while academy sixth form colleges have been included within the government’s guaranteed funding for the 5.5% pay rise, this has not been the case for non-academy institutes.
More than 2,000 members working in non-academy sixth form colleges across England are calling on the government to ensure they receive an above-inflation pay award consistent with the rest of the profession.
National Education Union rep John Boken said the strike action was met with positivity from the public, but said the college blocked a meeting organise the proceedings on site this week.
