STRIKERS continue to picket outside Carlisle College to make a stand in their fight for better pay.

Around 4,000 staff at 29 colleges throughout the country will take up to 10 days of strike action - members of the University and College Union (UCU) began picketing outside Carlisle's College campus on September 26.

Members committed to industrial action on October 5 and 6 and are planning further industrial action throughout this month.

Matthew Cookson, the UCU rep at the college said: "Teachers and support workers at Carlisle College are striking again in our fight for better pay for all staff at the college. 

"There is a strong feeling that we deserve more financial security as we head into a tough winter with high energy prices and inflation," he said. 

A pay deal has been offered by the NCG at a 2.5 per cent increase (3.5 per cent increase on last year's wages) alongside a £500 one-off payment, however, with salaries falling behind in comparison to inflation rates and the pay gap between school and college teachers standing at around £9,000, the pay deal has been rejected as members don't see it going far enough.

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The UCU members continue to make a stand as other colleges are achieving offers more than double that of NCG’s 2.5 per cent offer: one of which includes Capital City College Group who accepted a 9 per cent offer.

One college lecturer, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "Most of the college staff feel very strongly about the education of the learners that come to the college and feel quality is dropping massively due to poor management largely from the NCG.

"Although many staff cannot simply afford to strike, there is strong feelings that this strike will continue way beyond Christmas and into next year if a solution is not found.

"Many teaching staff are paid much less than what they could earn elsewhere doing the job they are teaching, so are making up for lost earnings plus more at weekends and evenings.

"This could soon have a massive knock-on effect for the college, as teachers who are striking, leaving their teaching jobs to either set up business themselves, work for other companies, which is leaving a massive gap in the colleges for experienced teachers as there is little incentive for workers to leave well-paid jobs for a lesser wage and more stressful career to fill in these gaps," they said.

A spokesperson from the NCG said: "We understand the financial pressures that our colleagues are facing at the moment and that is why we have offered both a consolidated and non-consolidated award to provide them with immediate support.

"Our offer is a 3.5 per cent increase on last year's wages, made up of a 2.5 per cent increase this year and a 1 per cent increase already built in from last year’s pay award.

"In addition, we have offered a £500 pro-rata one off payment to all colleagues in October's pay.

“We have been completely transparent with unions throughout negotiations regarding our finances, therefore they know we simply cannot afford to pay anymore."

READ MORE: College lecturers strike for better pay in Carlisle