Lecturers in Bristol Further Education Colleges are holding a one day strike on

Staff are angry that the employers’ representatives, the Association of Colleges, recommended a pay freeze, despite staff suffering a real-terms pay cut of 17.1% in the last five years. UCU members walked out in November as part of the dispute and are now joined on picket lines by UNISON members.

Three-quarters (74%) of UCU members who voted backed strike action in the union’s ballot at the end of last year. Last week UNISON also backed industrial action with two-thirds (66%) of their members who voted backing the walkout.

This cartoon was one of the entries to the 2015 UCU South West Region Caption Competition/ More carttons can be found here UCU South West Region Caption Competition

Judy Wilson, UNISON South West regional organiser said:
“The continued pay freeze hits our members hard. The cost of living in the South west, especially for housing, is rising faster than their wages. Many of our members are low paid and are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet.”

UNISON head of education, Jon Richards, said:
“After years of flat lining, wages across much of the economy are slowly picking up but not for those in further education. Faced with the prospect of yet another year with no pay rise, staff have understandably decided that enough is enough, and have taken the difficult decision to take action later this month. College workers will be hoping that the announcement of strike action is enough to get the Association of Colleges back around the table and in meaningful negotiations.”