Support staff at Barnsley College will be on strike all next week as their dispute over pay escalates, UNISON says today (Thursday).
The five-day walkout (from Monday 6 – Friday 10 November) is a result of the college’s refusal to negotiate over pay.
The union understands that Barnsley College has received money from a £500 million government fund for colleges. However, due to its refusal to negotiate, UNISON does not know how much it has received or how it intends to spend it.
The union balloted staff in May as part of the dispute, with workers voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The college then proposed a change to its pay structure, but said it would only be implemented if UNISON ended the dispute.
The proposals were never put to UNISON as a pay offer due to the college’s refusal to negotiate pay locally – and the union was only told they’d been implemented via talks through arbitration service Acas.
Staff have already taken industrial action last month, as well as in September.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Robin Symonds said: “As bills and other living costs continue to rise, Barnsley College refuses to negotiate a pay deal with its staff.
“Support staff at the college don’t want to be standing on a cold picket line all week, but the college’s refusal to discuss pay means they’re left with no choice.”
