September 2001

ACM Reaches Settlement on Pay

ACM has reached an agreement with the Association of Colleges (AoC) on the annual salary increase. At a meeting of the National Joint Forum (NJF), held on 26th June, ACM accepted the AoC offer of an increase of 3.7% (or £400, whichever is the greater) for all salary scales. AoC also agreed to a joint recommendation that colleges which pay the 3.7% move towards addressing the differentials caused by the Teaching Pay Initiative scheme to other staff wherever affordable and applicable.

AoC agreed to co-ordinate a joint employer/union lobby campaign of Government to seek additional funding for the sector in order to address the pay disparity between further education and schools employees. As part of this campaign, AoC agreed to work with the unions to develop a longer-term pay strategy for the sector. The development of a longer-term pay strategy for the sector will include:

• harmonisation of pay scales and pay structures

• guidance on progression within pay scales

• equal pay issues

• workloads

• training and career structures.

A commitment was made by AoC to undertake joint research and work with the unions to develop the following joint agreements:

• facility time including time off for lay officers

• hours and annual leave for support staff

• further research on agency employment

ATL accepted the offer. The support staff unions indicated that they would be recom-mending acceptance of the offer to their membership. They have subsequently all accepted the offer. NATFHE were not prepared to accept the offer. They were not prepared to suspend their planned action short of a strike and intend to proceed with further strike action early in the new academic year.

The outcome is pleasing and a vindication of the ACM negotiating strategy. AoC has been convinced of the need to ensure that FE employees receive an increase in 2001 at least equal to that of staff in schools and higher education. AoC have indicated a willingness to work towards restoring differentials with schools salaries that have been eroded over recent years and have made a real effort to address the issue of low pay. ACM is particularly pleased that AoC has agreed to a joint recommendation to colleges that the recent pay initiative be extended to all staff. This will enable many colleges to ensure that all those that contribute to improvements in performance are equally rewarded. The campaign to win additional resources from Government so that all colleges can extend the pay initiative continues.

ACM has written to all college Principals in England and Wales to encourage them to implement the recommended 3.7% increase in full from 1st August. Principals in England have also been encouraged to extend the pay initiative to all staff where they have the funds to do so.

ACM officers have already started work on preparing the pay claim for 2002. The Association will be undertaking research into management pay across the private and public sectors to support its claim. The Association’s Employment and Services Committee will consider an initial report in September. If you or your ACM branch have any views on the composition of the 2002 pay claim then please forward them to the ACM office in writing or by email to peterpendle@acm.uk.com.

Branch Visits

Since taking up his appointment in June, the Association’s new General Secretary, Peter Pendle, has visited several branches in England and Wales. Further visits have been arranged to take place early in the new academic year.

If you would like Peter to visit your branch or college to discuss the pay settlement or any other issues, please email him at:peterpendle@acm.uk.com