OCTOBER 2000   TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FURTHER EDUCATION– NINETEENTH CENTURY PAY AND CONDITIONS   FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS WITH LEAF   Scarcely a week goes by without the Government announcing a new funding "initiative" for education. In Further Education, it has been claimed that an extra £400 million has been allocated to the sector over three years. As a hard-pressed lecturer, you could be forgiven for being sceptical about this claim. The truth is, even if the figures stood up to serious examination (which they do not), they are dispersed in such a way that they merely add to the difficulties to teachers in the sector. You should expect to have to work even harder over the next three years or so, expect to have to contend with even more paperwork, management and administration, expect larger and possibly more difficult classes and expect further assaults on your conditions of service, and expect to have to do all of this for much less pay than your professional counterpart in schools and universities. When you have experienced all of this, you will understand why LEAF, unlike the other lecturers unions, has maintained that there has been little or no good news for FE teachers in the last four years.   The goodwill extended by the profession towards the new Labour Government has unfortunately been cynically betrayed.   WHAT'S HAPPENING ON PAY AND CONDITIONS? Since 1993, following Tory legislation, lecturers' pay has been determined locally by the Corporation, largely on the basis of each corporation's declared "ability to pay". Because of the power structure which was put in place, lecturers invariably fell to the bottom of the list of priorities.   Lecturers' pay has consequently fallen behind that of other comparable professional, including schoolteachers, (who themselves complain about having fallen behind!) by thirty per cent. Every single lecturer reading this knows by personal experience what this means. It means that the car is not replaced when it is necessary. It means that holidays are not taken. It means that lecturers and their families suffer from a permanent financial squeeze.   We state that this is an unacceptable state of affairs. To compound matters, the workload has increased by about forty per cent over the same period. Although cynics have said that the figures only prove the capacity to do more existed, behind the bald figures is a story, as yet untold, of human misery and stress. The toll on the profession has been great, and those who have worked throughout this period as well as the new entrants to the profession, are left to carry the burden.   HOW IS THE FUTURE SHAPING UP? This depends on whom you listen to. But it is without question that a broad consensus exists among the main FE organisations that the arrangements that have been imposed for pay, conditions of service, organisation and management of the sector, as well as strategic directions, are acceptable.   This consensus embraces the new Labour government, the established unions (NATFHE, ATL, ACM, etc.) the Opposition, the DFEE, FEFC and so on. In other words, your degraded status, degraded pay levels and degraded conditions of service are to be a permanent feature of the FE landscape.   When the Government gives credit for greater take-up and success rates in the 16 plus sector, you will be the unsung (and exploited) heroes, whose efforts will have achieved the results they praise the management for achieving. In order that there can be no doubts about this, let us state clearly here LEAF lies firmly outside this anti-teacher consensus. Unlike the rest of them, LEAF believes in teachers and demands that our work and commitment be properly valued and rewarded.   WHAT IS LEAF DOING TO IMPROVE MATTERS? Since our formation five years ago, LEAF has fought unceasingly to advance and protect your interests. We are alone in this fight, precisely because we insist always on putting lecturers' interests to the fore.   We have launched a massive political lobbying campaign to highlight the injustices that our profession has experienced–– alone.   We have initiated a number of important legal challenges to the imposed new contracts, and we have represented colleagues around the country who have experienced difficulties with their management.   All of these steps have been taken without the assistance of any other union in the sector, or indeed the trade union movement as a whole.   WHAT ARE OUR PROSPECTS FOR SUCCESS? Our challenge to the imposed contract, which was not supported by other unions, began in 1994, shortly after incorporation. The case, Ralton & Others v Havering College, which is recognised as a national test case, finally came to Court in 1999. Although we lost the initial case we have appealed against the decision and the full appeal is due to be heard early in February 2000.   We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our claims on the "Documents" page of our website at www.leafunion.org.uk Lest there be any misunderstanding, let us state our views here: we are completely confident of the correctness of our view, and we expect to win this case ultimately. That is why we are asking you to support us.   You will doubtless meet people at work who will tell you that legal challenges "take time", or that LEAF "cannot win". Almost without exception, these individuals know nothing about the arguments involved, or have an undeclared interest (they are management personnel, representatives from other unions and so on). But, ask yourself this, when did sheep ever develop an independent point of view? If we did not think we could win, we would not have asked for your support, nor would we have taken the important step to create the first new teachers' union for seventy years. And you would certainly not have given that support. The truth is that LEAF is a serious teacher's organisation that has been created from within the profession to represent its independent interests. If you value your professionalism, your career and your future welfare, you should join LEAF now.   WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT OF A LEAF VICTORY? Rather than merely make our claim, let us quote the other side. The solicitors acting for the Association of Colleges, attempted to reduce the appeal from twenty-three points of fact and law cited by our counsel, to a single point. In a letter to the Employment Appeal Tribunal, solicitors acting for the AoC, who are supporting Havering College in their defence of this case, said:- "Lastly, we would mention that the Appellant's Trade Union has made it clear that they regard this as an important Test Case and have indicated that many other Lecturers in Further Education will be encouraged to present claims against Further Education Colleges if the Appellants are successful. That being so, we would respectfully request that the case be allocated to the President of the Appeal Tribunal".   Do you seriously think that the AoC's lawyers would raise the matter of the prospect of widespread claims against colleges if there were not a realistic chance of this happening? Members of the Government have in the past voiced similar concerns. It is a fact that the Government, the DFEE and college employers are seriously concerned at a LEAF victory, and are terrified of the prospects of LEAF gaining significant support among FE professionals. It is not that they do not agree with LEAF's vision of an FE sector of excellence. It is more to do with their illusion that this can continue to be created on the cheap!   They are wrong, we know they are wrong, and we know will ultimately win the argument. When our arguments have prevailed, we will take steps immediately to recover all the losses sustained by teachers in the sector since 1993. In addition to recovering this £3-4billion in pay, increments, lost pension contributions, and unremunerated work, we will move to re-establish a national pay and conditions framework for the sector. In doing this we will in consequence return to a system of collective bargaining.   The conditions of service of lecturers will be subject to review and improvement, which will be a corollary of our success in proving wrongdoing on the part of the employers and Government over contract change between 1993-95.   Last but not least, we will address the pensions scandal and bargain for a new pensions settlement which will give every lecturer the right to appropriate pensions on retirement with the enhancement, which was part of our arrangements with the local authority employer.   Compare what we are offering, to that of the consensus group. They are now busy discussing the details of a performance related pay structure to be introduced to the sector in two years' time which is intended to overlay the present injustices. No doubt your performance will be monitored and criticised by Mr. Chris Woodhead and his team of OFSTED inspectors. Which future would you rather have?   LEAF REPRESENTATIONS IN MORE COLLEGES LEAF now has members in a quarter of all FE colleges. Our membership rose weekly as FE professionals, like yourself, joined our ranks. LEAF is now able to send skilled representatives to meet you at your place of work, and resolve problems or act in your interests. If you would like to meet a LEAF Officer, please contact our office in confidence.   YOU KNOW YOUR BEST INTERESTS! It seems likely that we are now entering the pre-election period. At times like these, politicians tend to make promises of better times to come for all. Back in 1996/97 lecturers were promised a new start from a new government, with categorical promises made to LEAF that, for example, staff would not be denied pay increases to match cost of living increases. These promises were broken. That is why we are determined to keep LEAF free from political alignment or partisanship.   Our policies are determined by our members, and are drawn up in the interests of the members and the wider profession. We hope that you will support this stance, and add your weight to our campaign. Don't let your employer continue to spread alarm and despondency–– turn the tables––   JOIN LEAF NOW–– TELL YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT US. IT IS VITAL TO BOTH YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES! We will gladly offer advice, support and practical help when requested.     © LEAF 2000 Return to top of Page