Truro & Penwith College (UCU) Strike Calendar

Truro & Penwith College staff in Cornwall, England, were on picket lines today to pressure management to begin meaningful negotiations in a long-running dispute over low pay. This is the first of six extra days of action being taken because management is refusing to negotiate with UCU officials. Prior to today, UCU members at the college had already taken 10 days of strike action this year in the pay dispute. National Education Union (NEU) members also joined today's action, after recently winning their ballot for strike action, and will join all further strike days unless college bosses raise pay. Staff are demanding a pay rise to help them meet the cost of living crisis. RPI inflation is currently 14.2%, but the college has only raised pay by 2.5% alongside a one-off payment of just £750. The college has also presented the government's 1.25% reduction in national insurance contributions as a benefit that it has passed on to staff. UCU says the college can easily afford to meet staff demands but is instead pushing them into poverty. The most recent college accounts show it has reserves of over £38m, no debts, and is running a surplus. The college is refusing to allow negotiators from either the UCU or NEU to take part in pay negotiation meetings. This summer, UCU produced a report that shows the vast majority of college staff are financially insecure, impacting the mental health of more than eight in 10, with many being forced to skip meals and restrict hot water use to save money. Seven in 10 said they will leave the sector unless pay and working conditions improve.