A union which represents teachers has claimed that further education lecturers are being treated unfairly by a government department and a number of colleges in the north, including Derry’s North West Regional College (NWRC).
The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union hit out at the treatment of further education lecturers in Derry’s North West Regional College (NWRC) and the other five colleges throughout Northern Ireland which make up Colleges NI, the membership body for Northern Ireland's six Colleges of Further and Higher Education.
They claimed that further education lecturers are ‘the only public sector workers in Northern Ireland not to receive any incremental progression for 2017-18’.
NASUWT said that school teachers were notified on the August 23, last year, that the Department of Education had secured Department of Finance (DoF) approval to provide temporary cover for pay progression in September 2017.
All teachers who were due this payment received it by the end of October 2017.
Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, said: “It is simply unacceptable that payments to which Further Education (FE) lecturers are entitled have still not been paid.
“Members are understandably angry about this and it is adding to the financial burdens which year –on-year pay cuts have already imposed.
“There is no justification for the differential and unfair treatment that lecturers are facing.”
Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland, said that it will now be considering tribunal claims.
“The NASUWT will be challenging this position vigorously by all appropriate means including, if necessary, tribunal claims,” she said.
“Teachers were notified on August 23, 2017 that the Department of Education had secured Department of Finance approval to provide temporary cover for pay progression in September 2017.
“Colleges NI seem to be doing nothing to ensure that their member colleges are paying their staff all of the wages to which they are entitled.
“Some of our members are now owed around £2,000 in back pay. They have bills to pay and many are facing hardship and stress as a result of the failure of the colleges and the Department of the Economy to look after the interests of their employees.”
The Derry News asked for a response to the claims about NWRC and the other five colleges of Colleges NI.
Pay backdated
A spokesperson for the Department for the Economy said: “Further Education Colleges are Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) of the Department for the Economy (DfE) and colleges, as the employer, are responsible for seeking approval to implement pay increases and pay awards in line with the Pay Remit Approval Process and Guidance issued from the Department of Finance (DoF).
“Further Education colleges have submitted a request for temporary approval to DfE for payment of incremental progression.
“This is currently with the Department of Finance for consideration.
“Colleges cannot progress payment until the appropriate approval is provided.
“When approval is granted, pay will be backdated and paid by colleges at the earliest opportunity.”
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