STRIKES action is being taken by sixth form college teacher members in 8 colleges across the North West this week.

On Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4, members from the National Education Union at Winstanley College and St John Rigby College in Wigan will be striking outside the college grounds.

Members from Bolton Sixth Form College, Cardinal Newman College (Preston), Aquinas College (Stockport), Holy Cross College (Bury), Loreto College (Manchester), and Xaverian College (Manchester) are also taking part in the strike.

The staffers are striking due to the Government’s "failure" to resolve a pay discrepancy in sixth form colleges, with 2,000 National Education Union teacher members taking action this week.

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The NEU states that there is an injustice with the decision to include teachers in academised sixth form colleges within the Government’s guaranteed funding for the 5.5% teacher pay award, while non-academised sixth form colleges have not received similar funding.

Given the continued absence of guaranteed pay funding, members working in non-academised sixth form colleges are taking strike action to ensure they receive an above-inflation pay award consistent with the rest of the profession.

Following the strike action that began last week, the NEU members will be commencing further strike action next week and in the new year unless the Government provides a resolution to the dispute.

These dates include Friday, December 13, and Tuesday, January 7, Wednesday, January 8, and Thursday, January 9.

Peter Middleman, North West Regional Secretary, National Education Union, said: "The exceptionally strong turnout for the strike action last Thursday (November 28) should have been a wake-up call to Government that our members will not back down on this issue.

"It is simply unjust that teachers in non-academised sixth form colleges are not being guaranteed the funding for a comparable pay award to the 5.5% pay deal seen elsewhere in academised sixth form colleges and schools.

"They do the same job with the same commitment and the same importance. We will never accept a two-tier workforce and our members must have the same pay.

"The responsibility for these strikes lies with Government not teachers. No teacher wants to be taking strike action. They want to be in classrooms doing what they do best: teaching. We remain as always willing to resolve this dispute with Government.

"However, in the face of yet more silence our members will continue with their action.

"Government needs to recognise this absurd situation needs to end and that they must quickly address this inexcusable pay divide. Let there be no doubt the strike action will continue into the New Year unless sense prevails, and our members are given the pay they deserve."