UNISON is working with colleges, students and other unions to promote the importance of FE colleges and to call for more funding and better pay.
UNISON worked with Manchester College to organise a visit today (Monday) from Cllr Sean Fielding – the portfolio holder for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority – to mark the beginning of the #LoveOurColleges campaign week.
Sean met with unions and the college’s leadership team, and shared thoughts about the importance of accessible further education in our communities, and the need for more investment in colleges and in staff pay.
Andy Rutherford, UNISON North West Lead for Further Education said:
“Further education colleges provide a gateway to learning and opportunity in our communities. It is important that they are good employers and that they are accountable and responsive to local people. At their best, FE colleges provide a high-quality and wide-ranging curriculum that is easily accessible for the local community.
“For too long, the vital work that FE colleges do has been overlooked and underfunded. It is great that unions, students and colleges are coming together this week to press the case for a better-funded FE sector and a fair deal on pay for college staff.”
#LoveOurColleges is a joint campaign by unions, the NUS and the Association of Colleges. Read the Manifesto for Better Funding and Fair Pay in Further Education.