Lecturers' unions Natfhe and ATL and public service workers' union Unison combined in a strike and lobby of parliament to demand parity with teachers and other school staff. They estimated around two-thirds of all colleges had been affected by the strike.
Natfhe says the average further education lecturer earns £3,000 less than a teacher doing similar work. Unison's general secretary, Dave Prentis, said two-thirds of FE support staff earn less than £13,000 a year and a fifth less than £10,000. Teachers were awarded 3.5% in April.
Earlier this year the employers' body, the Association of Colleges, joined the unions' protest to parliament. But yesterday Mr Prentis turned on the AoC for holding back £32m given by ministers for extra pay.
Last week the AoC failed in a high court attempt to get an injunction to prevent Unison's strike.
Ministers are preparing an "investment with reform" package for further education to be announced later this month, which will offer incentives for lecturers with professional qualifications and incentives for city colleges to specialise.
The Department for Education said: "We have made funds available to FE.
"The national pay negotiations are a matter between the Association of Colleges and the trade unions, and we urge them to get round the negotiating table."
