NATFHE, the union which represents teaching staff in Further Education, has agreed to organise a two-day strike on 2 and 3 May. This is in response to the 1.5% pay rise offered for 2006-7. The strike takes place in advance of scheduled talks.
The two-day strike will be held the week before the second round of pay talks is due to start. The union says the strike will be the start of a programme of escalating industrial action, up to and including indefinite strike action.
Six further education unions, representing other workers, have also rejected the offer. The unions have made a claim for a 7% rise, partly because of a shortfall in last year’s pay offer.