Teachers at City of Oxford College are set to go on strike on Wednesday in a protest over pay.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will walk out after 74 per cent of the organisation's members voted to support strike action.

The UCU said the strike was taking place because the Association of Colleges had recommended no pay rise for this year, meaning pay for further education teachers had fallen "well behind" the pay of school teachers.

A picket line will be in place at the Oxpens Road college from 8am until 10.30am.

UCU spokesman Alan Whitaker said: "Teaching staff are leaving further education colleges to get better paid jobs in schools.

"Teaching staff at the City of Oxford College have a particular concern as a recent union survey showed that the pay rates are low at the college compared to the national pay rate and also compared other colleges, where we are ranked 143rd out of 181 FE colleges throughout the country.

"Recruiting new good quality teaching staff will become problematic because of the high cost of living in Oxford and the relatively low rates of pay."
Karen Sanders, group director of human resources and organisational development at Activate Learning said: “Union membership at City of Oxford College is low and therefore only a small number of teaching staff will be taking part in the action on Wednesday.

“While we are not immune to the impact of national funding cuts on further education, despite the national recommendation of a zero per cent pay award, we have been in the fortunate position to have already made a one per cent award to all staff.  

“We are committed to ensuring that any strike action does not jeopardise our students’ learning and can confirm that no classes will be cancelled as a result of this strike.”