Students across Chichester, Crawley and Brinsbury affected as Chichester College Group prepare to strike

The strikes will take place for a total of 10 days

Chichester College Group have announced dates for strike action in a move that will affect students at campuses in Chichester, Brinsbury and Crawley.

The strikes will take place for 10 days and those attending colleges within the organisation will impacted on various dates from the 26th of September until the 20th of October. It is hoped by the union that the industrial action will result in a 'fair pay rise', an 'agreement on professional respect' and also 'action on workloads'.

Confirmed dates for the strike include the 26th, 27th and 28th of September, with the rest taking place next month on the 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th and 20th of October. 

Strike dates have now been announced. We hope that we can still find agreement to avert strike action taking place. #respectfe pic.twitter.com/TCtJqZkZC0

— ChiCollegeGroupUCU (@chi_ucu) September 12, 2022

Branch chair of the Chichester College Group UCU, Philip Wilson-Marks, admitted that staff wages have been reduced by a third within 10 years. 

He continued: "Now the current cost of living crisis and spiralling energy bills have made it even more urgent that we secure a fair deal on pay".  

The UCU have granted access to strike pay to staff taking part. 

Chichester College Group's CEO Andrew Green describes staff as their "most valuable asset". 

He said: "We are committed to investing them as much as possible. 

"In August, we awarded a 3 per cent pay increase to all staff with an additional lump sum payment to be made in October to certain groups of staff, which equates to a weighted pay increase of 5.3 per cent.

"At the same time, the senior management team have all voted to decline a pay increase themselves and will use the money saved will create a hardship fund for those in need of additional assistance."

Green adds that "contingency plans" are in place to "minimise disruption" to any students at the affected colleges.

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