Leeds City College workers are demanding meaningful raises, photo Dan Moyle (Creative Commons)

Leeds City College workers are demanding meaningful raises, photo Dan Moyle (Creative Commons)   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Following successful pay protests in November at Leeds City College further education unions UCU and Unison decided to keep the momentum going in December and planned repeat action.

Staff want to show they are serious about receiving a meaningful pay award this year by holding protests every month – until the college shows it is willing to enter a constructive dialogue on the issue. Staff have not received any rise in pay over the last two academic years despite the ever-rising cost of living.

At the Printworks Campus on 13 December, ten staff members braved heavy rainfall to make their presence known outside and show they were not going to back down. The following day at the Park Lane Campus around 30 staff members gathered with placards and flags, sang songs and ate mince pies.

Unison members are also currently being balloted about whether or not they wish to consider strike action over the refusal of Leeds City College to accept the Association of Colleges’ recommendation of a 1% pay rise last year.

Leeds City College Unison member