2.3% Rise Offered To Welsh Colleges

Fforwm, the organisation representing FE colleges in Wales has tabled a 2.3% pay rise for 2009-10 in response to the joint union claim. However, because the organisation says they have no mandate to negotiate on national terms and conditions, the offer has for now at least, been rejected by the joint union side while they seek a form of words from Fforwm that would allow both sides to discuss, in a positive manner, what model terms and conditions could look like in the sector.

A commitment to negotiate national terms and conditions is something the joint unions have been seeking for some time but so far, without success. However, the Welsh Assembly Government appears to be positive about talks regarding national conditions of service so political pressure may yet bring about a solution. With this in mind the joint unions are seeking a meeting with the minister, John Griffiths.

AMiE Wales Officer, Brian Thornton said, “The pay offer is welcome, but with discussions on national conditions of service promised by Fforwm following the Webb report; and with support for this from the minister, we need to make progress on this issue as well. The school sector has the protection of national conditions of service – we seek parity with this sector.”

Fforwm have conducted their own research on conditions of service across Wales and the unions have asked them to share the results. Brian added, “With the transformation agenda underway there are a number of advantages to having common terms and conditions, not least when colleges merge.”

Five Unions Accept Pay Offer For English Colleges

All the English NJF unions other than UCU have now accepted the Association of Colleges (AoC) final offer of a 1.5% pay increase from 1 August. UCU delegates attending a special conference to consider the offer said that it fell short of the pay award given to school teachers and so could not be accepted. They will now ballot members on taking industrial action.

The AoC have subsequently advised colleges of the position and in a briefing to principals say that this is their final recommendation. It remains to be seen whether colleges now implement the award or whether they await the outcome of the UCU ballot.

The unions accepting the offer are ACM, ATL, Unison, Unite and GMB.

Breastfeeding At Work

Maternity Action has produced an information sheet on women’s rights to continue breastfeeding on return to work.  This outlines women’s options for continuing breastfeeding on their return to work, their legal rights and how to negotiate with their employer.  It includes contact details for organisations which can provide further assistance.

The information sheet provides invaluable help for women contemplating the return to work and those already negotiating with their employer.

Unions, voluntary organisations, statutory organisations and others are welcome to use and distribute the information sheet, which is available to download from the Maternity Action website: www.maternityaction.org.uk

Demand Led Learning Is Sleight Of Hand

Delegates to next weeks Trades Union Congress being held in Liverpool will be told that the concept of  demand led learning is government sleight of hand. AMiE partner ACM will argue that demand for learning is not the same as need for learning, and that for those who are disadvantaged and lack skills, public subsidy is necessary to turn need into demand.

The congress will be urged to call on government to give colleges the flexibility and discretion to respond to local needs.

Tom Wilson, the recently appointed director of the TUC’s UnionLearn, previews the congress on FENews.co.uk.

Limit On Week’s Pay Increasing to £380

From 1 October 2009, the limit on a week’s pay for the purposes of calculating a statutory redundancy payment will rise from £350 to £380.

This increase will also apply to a wide range of employment tribunal awards – calculated using a week’s pay.

As this change is taking place in October rather than  February 2010, there will be no change to the limit on a week’s pay next year.

Any non-contractual redudancy pay calculations where notice is given on or after 1 October will need to reflect the new rates.

TUC Welcomes Jobs Guarantee For Young People

Responding to the expansion of the Government’s Jobs Guarantee today (Wednesday) to young people who have been unemployed for ten months, as part of the Backing Young Britain campaign, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

“This is fantastic news for the many young people who are in desperate need of work.

“In previous recessions many young people have been left on the scrapheap. Today’s announcement shows the Government is committed to not letting this happen again.

“Demand will be high so it’s good to see so many places already on offer. The Government must also ensure that any new opportunities provide access to real jobs, offering good prospects and a decent wage.

“As a signatory to Backing Young Britain, the TUC will continue to encourage businesses to take on more young people, both as employees and as apprentices.

“We expect the Jobs Guarantee to be a huge success and the Government should consider extending it to anyone who has been out of work for over a year.”

Tragedy If A-Levels Are Unrewarded

It will be tragic if today’s A-level results are unrewarded by a place in higher education or a job, says Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of AMiE partner union the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

Mary Bousted said: “Today should be about congratulating students and teachers on their outstanding results, not belittling their achievements by criticising A-level standards.

“The rise in the number of students taking maths, physics and chemistry shows how ridiculous is the debate about so-called hard and soft subjects.

“It will be little short of a tragedy if all the hard work by this year’s students is unrewarded by a place in higher education or a job. It seems particularly cruel to raise expectations and then dash them by failing to provide enough places in higher education for UK students. The Government will need to do more to support those who don’t manage to get a university place this year.

“The Government also needs to work with schools and teachers, plus the careers service to provide help, advice and guidance for those who did not get the results they wanted so they can make the best choices for their future and have the chance to rethink their careers or resit their exams.

“Today’s results, however, do not hide the problems with our exam-based education system which is obsessed with passing tests to the detriment of learning skills. Too many students leave school or college with their heads stuffed with promptly forgotten facts, instead of leaving with the skills they need for higher education or work, and for successful lives. And many others are lost to education, bored and demotivated by endless testing.

“After today we need to have a proper debate about what we want our education system to do – whether it is just to cherry-pick the brightest students for the top universities or to provide a rounded education which prepares young people for life in 21st century Britain.”

Big Jump In College Manager Redundancy Levels

The number of AMiE members asking for help because they are at risk of redundancy has jumped significantly in the last few weeks.

Some 40% of all calls to the AMiE helpline from college managers since the beginning of June have been about redundancy problems compared to 30% for the academic year as a whole.

The rise is not in itself that unusual – many FE colleges reorganise their staffing structures at this time of year – but the big concern is that job losses will continue well into the autumn.

AMiE general secretary Peter Pendle said, “No one seems to think we will see a reduction in job losses any time soon. Uncertainties about funding together with the current economic climate are conspiring against us. When colleges reopen in the autumn we expect a further round of restructuring and more college mergers. The impact on our members jobs will be serious.”

MPs Condemn College Funding Scheme

MPs have condemned the Learning and Skills Council’s college building scheme in England. This follows the announcement earlier this month that just 13 projects would be allowed to proceed.

Both the LSC and the government are criticised in a report by the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee which deals with further education.

Committee chairman Phil Willis MP, is quoted as saying: “It really beggars belief that such an excellent programme which had showed real success in transforming the further education experience for students was mismanaged into virtual extinction.”

For more on this story, please see the BBC News website.

Reacting to the MPs’ report, Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of AMiE partner union the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said,

“Further education, its staff and students, are suffering because of the total fiasco over the capital building programme.  This was a text-book example of how not to run a funding programme.  Both the Learning and Skills Council and the Government have to take the blame for this and learn from their mistakes.

“The Committee’s report supports our view that the structures set up to deliver post 16 education are ill thought through and too complex.  Contrary to what was proposed in the 2005 Foster Review the Government has been treating FE colleges like any other commercial, market driven business.  They are being used as ‘skills warehouses’ to educate those over 16.

“The current mess highlights the dangers of splitting education provision between more than one government department.”

Massive Jump In Apprentices Aged Over 25

There has been a massive 377% increase in the  number of new apprentices aged over 25  as employers look to upskill and motivate their existing workforce during the recession.

Government figures have revealed that 46,800 over-25s joined apprenticeship schemes this year.

For the full story please see the Personnel Today website.