Further education lecturers and support staff are today holding a one-day nationwide strike in protest at a 2.3% pay offer by college employers.
They are fighting for a "substantial increase" this year, with progress towards closing the 12% pay gap between college and school staff. The strike will affect some 250 colleges, catering for nearly 3.5 million students.
The lecturers' union, Natfhe, and the support staff union, Unison, have condemned the employers' body, the Association of Colleges (AoC), for persistently refusing to reopen negotiations on pay.
FE received an extra 1% funding in the summer's comprehensive spending review, and assurances from the government it would be given significant additional money for pay. Lecturers say they have yet to see any money.
The AoC attempted to halt Unison's involvement in the strike in the High Court on Friday, but the case was rejected on a technicality.
Paul Mackney, Natfhe general secretary, said: "The employers are proving incapable of resolving this dispute. We have done everything we can to get the employers back around the table to avoid disruption to our students' education.
"And the government is not completely blameless. Ministers could have helped to stiffen the resolve of the AoC to negotiate in good faith to close the pay gap. Neither has seemed willing to go the extra mile needed to avoid this strike."
Dave Prentis, Unison general secretary, said: "I am angry at the employers. We have left the door open for negotiations but they would rather drag us through the courts on technical legal points.
"The employers' attempt to get an injunction was a disgraceful attempt to stop Unison members taking part in the strike. Unison members will not be intimidated by such bullying tactics.
"The employers seem to have forgotten the plight of dedicated FE college staff who have become the poor relations of the education sector."
But the AoC said the strike was "premature", ahead of the government's announcement on the long-term funding of FE, due to be made by the education secretary, Charles Clarke, at AoC's annual conference on November 19.
The AoC claims only a minority of colleges will close today.
Ivor Jones, director of employment policy for the AoC, said: "We believe that the trade unions that represent our staff should at least give the secretary of state for education the opportunity to make his comprehensive spending review announcement without pre-judging the outcome with strike action.
"The commitment of AoC to college staff remains steadfast on the issue of pay - we want to secure equality of pay with schools and other training providers for all staff in general further education colleges."
Today's comments from the employers and workers in FE colleges mark a departure from previous sentiments. Earlier this year they jointly lobbied MPs for more money for the sector.
University lecturers in London have voted to strike on November 14 over a £4,000 London weighting claim. Schoolteachers in London have also voted to strike over London weighting on November 26.
