19/09/2006
College lecturers strike for pay equality
College lecturers at the sixteen Further Education Centres throughout Northern Ireland are staging a one-day strike as part of a protest in a bid to get equal pay with school teachers.
Lecturers are currently paid around £2,500 less than teachers, and they hope that the action will help to get financial parity with teachers, which they were promised in 2001.
The lecturers are taking action to show their opposition to the government's decision to merge the institutions to form six `super-colleges` by 2007.
The Association of NI Colleges today said that it was disappointed at the action being taken just as the new academic year begins and added that it is pressing the government to scrap the pay cap which has stopped colleges from giving large pay rises.
Todays action is the third taken recent weeks, with further disruption planned for October and November.
Jim McKeown, Regional officer of the University and College Union, which currently represents around 4,300 lecturers in Northern Ireland, today said that the dispute has been running for a long time yet said that no one in authority seems to have any interest in finding a resolution.
He said: "The employers claim they support the lecturers but the Department of Education and Learning won't allow them to pay.
"Those at the top are running round in circles and nobody will take a decision.
"The dispute has run into another year and college bosses are rubbing salt in the wound by refusing to make any pay offer for this year.”
Mr McKeown added that lecturers do the same job as teachers and therefore deserve the same pay.
(EF/KMcA)
Lecturers are currently paid around £2,500 less than teachers, and they hope that the action will help to get financial parity with teachers, which they were promised in 2001.
The lecturers are taking action to show their opposition to the government's decision to merge the institutions to form six `super-colleges` by 2007.
The Association of NI Colleges today said that it was disappointed at the action being taken just as the new academic year begins and added that it is pressing the government to scrap the pay cap which has stopped colleges from giving large pay rises.
Todays action is the third taken recent weeks, with further disruption planned for October and November.
Jim McKeown, Regional officer of the University and College Union, which currently represents around 4,300 lecturers in Northern Ireland, today said that the dispute has been running for a long time yet said that no one in authority seems to have any interest in finding a resolution.
He said: "The employers claim they support the lecturers but the Department of Education and Learning won't allow them to pay.
"Those at the top are running round in circles and nobody will take a decision.
"The dispute has run into another year and college bosses are rubbing salt in the wound by refusing to make any pay offer for this year.”
Mr McKeown added that lecturers do the same job as teachers and therefore deserve the same pay.
(EF/KMcA)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 September 2002
MLA's call for new firefighters pay scheme
Two UUP MLA's have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to implement a new pay scheme for Ulster's firefighters. North Antrim UUP MLA the Rev Robert Coulter called for the introduction of a new pay formula in a motion to the Assembly on Monday. Mr Coulter said he hoped it would help achieve a real remedy to the question of firefighter’s pay.
MLA's call for new firefighters pay scheme
Two UUP MLA's have called on the Northern Ireland Executive to implement a new pay scheme for Ulster's firefighters. North Antrim UUP MLA the Rev Robert Coulter called for the introduction of a new pay formula in a motion to the Assembly on Monday. Mr Coulter said he hoped it would help achieve a real remedy to the question of firefighter’s pay.
31 May 2006
College lecturers stage second strike
Almost 2,000 lecturers in Northern Ireland's 16 further education colleges are taking part in another day of strike action over a pay dispute. This is the second time within a week that the the teachers have taken part in industrial action.
College lecturers stage second strike
Almost 2,000 lecturers in Northern Ireland's 16 further education colleges are taking part in another day of strike action over a pay dispute. This is the second time within a week that the the teachers have taken part in industrial action.
24 May 2021
Hovis Workers Agree Increased Pay Offer
A majority of Hovis workers have accepted an increased pay offer and strike action has now ended. Unite the union welcomed the offer and said it was as "decisive victory for workforce achieved through collective organisation and industrial militancy".
Hovis Workers Agree Increased Pay Offer
A majority of Hovis workers have accepted an increased pay offer and strike action has now ended. Unite the union welcomed the offer and said it was as "decisive victory for workforce achieved through collective organisation and industrial militancy".
12 September 2013
O'Dowd Could Fast-Track Teachers' Incremental Pay
Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has said he will move to fast-track the payment of teachers' incremental pay awards. The date for teachers' incremental progression each year is 1 September, but no agreement has been formally reached between employers and unions on a 2013/14 pay award.
O'Dowd Could Fast-Track Teachers' Incremental Pay
Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has said he will move to fast-track the payment of teachers' incremental pay awards. The date for teachers' incremental progression each year is 1 September, but no agreement has been formally reached between employers and unions on a 2013/14 pay award.
04 April 2023
NI Teachers Announce Strike Action For 26 April
Teachers from five teaching unions across NI have announced that they will take strike action on Wednesday 26 April, over the failure to offer teachers and Further Education lecturers a fair and decent pay award.
NI Teachers Announce Strike Action For 26 April
Teachers from five teaching unions across NI have announced that they will take strike action on Wednesday 26 April, over the failure to offer teachers and Further Education lecturers a fair and decent pay award.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.