Angry lecturers will lobby Coleg y Cymoedd’s governing body today, March 9, in protest against the college head’s £46,000 pay rise, amid the threat of redundancies.
Principal Judith Evans was given a 47% pay rise despite teachers having to fight for a wage increase of 1%.
University and College Union (UCU) members will rally against the “unjustifiable” pay hike after passing a vote of no confidence in the governing body.
They claim a funding cut from the Welsh Government could lead to a reduction of part-time teaching of 50% and full-time provision of 2.5%.
They have vowed to fight any compulsory redundancies at the college, which was formed when Ystrad Mynach College merged with Coleg Morgannwg.
UCU Coleg y Cymoedd branch chair Guy Stoate said: “UCU is totally opposed to these cuts in staffing and the consequent loss of educational provision in RCT and Caerphilly.
“It makes no sense during a recession to cut educational opportunities. Make no mistake; we are here to send a clear message to the governors. UCU will ballot for strike action if any compulsory redundancies are announced.”
A UCU spokesperson said: “Lecturers were told that specific areas were not being targeted for redundancy and that management intend to mitigate the risk of compulsory redundancies by calling for widespread voluntary job losses. However, no assurances have been made.
“It is within this context that the remuneration committee decided to award the college principal a pay increase of £46,084 bringing it up to £145,000, which equates to two lecturer’s jobs.
“UCU Coleg y Cymoedd calls upon the governing body to review the principal’s and senior management pay hikes and ensure that high quality education, with a strong and motivated lecturing staff is a key priority to enable the communities we serve to thrive.”
A Coleg y Cymoedd spokesperson said: “Discussions regarding staffing levels at the college are the unavoidable result of national cuts to further education funding.
“As is currently the case in all colleges across Wales, Coleg y Cymoedd must seek to reduce expenditure, with a minimal effect to its educational provisions, via a voluntary redundancy process.
“The initial stages of that voluntary redundancy process are still ongoing.
“Therefore, it is not appropriate to discuss any potential subsequent actions until this process is completed. All recognised trade unions have been consulted and are fully aware of this fact.
“As we have said numerous times, the decision regarding the salary for the principal’s post and members of the college’s senior leadership team were taken nearly two years ago in the context of the merger of two colleges.
“At that time, in 2013, the governors asked an independent expert to recommend salaries which were in line with the Welsh median level and reflected the fact that the institution had doubled in size.”
Those who promoted and agreed this obscene and perverse pay hike are deluded. The same can be said of those who promote and have recommended a hike in the pay of Assembly Members, all in the face of severe restriction put on any pay increases for Teachers, Council Workers. nurses and other front line medics, etc. What world do these people inhabit? The arrogance is breathtaking from those who potentially benifit from such pocket lining thefts from the public purse, while at the same time preventing reasonable pay settlements for others who probably deserve it more..
JUST the hike in pay, per year, to this person, is equivalent to the basic pension of 12 old age pensioners, her annual salary is equivalent to the basic pension of 36 Old Age Pensioners.
Those who promoted and agreed this obscene and perverse pay hike are deluded. The same can be said of those who promote and have recommended a hike in the pay of Assembly Members, all in the face of severe restriction put on any pay increases for Teachers, Council Workers. nurses and other front line medics, etc. What world do these people inhabit? The arrogance is breathtaking from those who potentially benifit from such pocket lining thefts from the public purse, while at the same time preventing reasonable pay settlements for others who probably deserve it more..
JUST the hike in pay, per year, to this person, is equivalent to the basic pension of 12 old age pensioners, her annual salary is equivalent to the basic pension of 36 Old Age Pensioners. That has to be a care home full? not to mention those struggling to feed and cloth themselves and heat their homes. The increase is perverse.