Windsor Forest Colleges Group staff to strike in dispute over pay with management

Staff at colleges in Maidenhead, Windsor and Langley are set to strike this week after rejecting the latest offer in a dispute over pay.

The University and College Union (UCU) said staff at Windsor Forest Colleges Group turned down the additional pay offer of £500 from management, stating it is ‘simply not good enough’.

The strike action will take place on Tuesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 18.

 It will affect the Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) in Burchetts Green, Windsor College, Langley College and Strode’s College.

The UCU has already called three days of strike action since the beginning of the year, from Wednesday, January 14 to Friday, January 16.

This came after management made a pay offer of 1.7 percent, which is ‘less than half’ of the four per cent recommended by employer body, the Association of Colleges, the UCU said.

The union added that even with the additional £500, ‘all staff would still be paid below the recommended rate’.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady, said: “Our members are struggling to make ends meet, yet Windsor Forest Colleges Group thinks it's okay to pay them less than that recommended by its own employer body.  

“It's simply not good enough and we will be forced to escalate the dispute and strike later this month, unless management comes back to the table with an improved offer that recognises the excellent education and training their staff provide to students across Berkshire and Surrey.”

The Windsor Forest Colleges has declined to comment.