Workplace Report April 2003

Features: News Bargaining

College lecturers get pay boost from new scale

A new pay structure agreed for sixth form college lecturers provided a second pay rise within four months of the previous rise in January, boosting salaries considerably.

The package brought further salary increases above the previous 3.5% from 1 September 2002 of between 1% and 9% for salary points previously below comparable salaries in schools. It established a system of further professional standards pay progression at two yearly intervals by four stages.

The settlement was the fruit of sustained campaigning for improved funding and salary levels by the NUT, NASUWT and ATL teaching unions and the National Joint Council for Sixth Form Colleges .

As in the further education sector, the aim has been to achieve salary levels that are competitive with those in schools.

The new six-point scale of £17,595-£25,751 replaces the previous nine-point scale. It is linked with four "professional standards" salary points running from £27,898 to £32,200. The deal also resulted in five new promoted/management ranges of four points.

Sixth form college lecturers' scale

Previous spine point New spine point £pa

1 and 2 1 17,595 3 2 18,988 4 and 5 3 20,491 6 4 22,113 7 5 23,863 8 and 9 6 25,751