Picture: Google Maps
Workers are forming picket lines outside the site after claiming pay has gone down by a quarter over the last ten years.
It’s being backed by 82% of people in the University and College Union.
“They feel very undervalued and very betrayed,” said Jane Thompson, a Regional Support Officer for the union.
“We’ve dropped staff by a third but we haven’t dropped courses or students by a third.”
They’re demanding a 5% increase, similar to one agreed by the Captial City College Group (CCCG) in November after strikes.
The gap between those teaching similar subjects in college and school has now reached £7,000.
Two thirds of employers have recognised it’s causing a problem in recruitment, according to Jane.
“At the end of the day, the people who are suffering are the students.
“If we can’t attract the best teachers, and the ones we have are overworked, then students aren’t getting the education they deserve.”
It’s also having a knock-on effect on skill shortages in various sectors.
Enrollments in Engineering have dropped from 150,000 to 50,000 and in Health and Social Care from 680,000 to 220,000, she added.
“People aren’t being trained in areas whether the country desperately needs them because colleges haven’t got the staff or funding to deliver it.”
The union says further strikes are planned if they don’t receive a decent offer, adding the college can no longer “hide behind government cuts.”
It’s part of the “Love Colleges” campaign and members from 15 other English colleges are walking out as well.
Harlow MP, Robert Halfon, is also supporting them: “Our education system is under huge strain and for far too long further education has been the poor relation when it comes to funding.”
Tags: Harlow, Harlow College
