Star date: 12th November 2019

OBSTINATE COLLEGE MANAGEMENT PROLONG STAFF STRIKE

Staff at Salford City College sites continued with their second of six strike days of action, as the management of the College won't compromise on refusing to implement a nationally agreed deal on a cost of living pay increase.

"We've offered a compromise" says Mark Sullivan Salford College NEU steward "...They're not interested in offering any solution really and are willing to let this go on". There's to be another strike tomorrow and three next week, as the strike is in danger of escalating.

Full details here...

Management at Salford City College is refusing to budge on its shocking stance of refusing to implement a nationally agreed deal on a cost of living pay increase for staff. With one day of strike action in October*, and a further five strike days planned, beginning today, chaos is looming for students.

This morning on the picket line at the City Skills site off Frederick Road, National Education Union (NEU) Salford College steward, Mark Sullivan, told the Salford Star that a compromise had been offered by staff to solve the dispute but management had turned it down...

"We're still asking for negotiations but nothing has been offered" he explained "We've offered a compromise which would see us being put back on the pay scale in a year's time, saving the College money but that's been rejected out of hand.

"They're not interested in offering any solution really and are willing to let this go on" he added "There's another strike day tomorrow and three days next week, then we don't know. We're hopeful something will happen. We've got the right to strike so we'll see how it goes."

The College, although it hasn't responded to a comment request from the Salford Star, is citing a lack of finances in negotiations with the NEU – however, it is currently paying off £580,000 to get out of a botched fifty year lease a previous regime took out for Damson restaurant on Salford Quays, the Star understands. The cost of resolving this dispute would be around £117,000, the union states.

Meanwhile, last year's accounts for the College show that the Principal was paid £143,000, while it has 'unrestrictive reserves' of £16.182million.
 
Now other unions at Salford City College are being balloted for strike action as the current dispute could escalate in the face of management obstinacy...

"The staff support is good" added Mark Sullivan "People in other unions are not covering, and others not in our union are not crossing the picket line..."

Other strike days will happen tomorrow, Wednesday 13th, followed by 19th, 20th and 21st November.

* For a full background see previous Salford Star article – click here