Windsor college staff storm out over pay – again

Teaching staff at Windsor Forest Colleges Group will walk out tomorrow for the third time this year over a “derisory” low pay rise offer of 1.7 per cent.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) agreed to strike on Wednesday after claims that leaders refuse to “meet the bare minimum” of the Association of Colleges’ 4 per cent pay recommendation.

The industrial action could see hundreds of staff putting down their tools across the group’s four colleges in Berkshire and Surrey: Slough and Langley College, Windsor College, Strode’s College, and the Berkshire College of Agriculture.

Picket lines have been drawn at two campuses: Slough and Langley College and Berkshire College of Agriculture.

Staff already walked out in March for two days and were also part of the national strike in January that saw workers in 25 colleges protest for three days over pay and working conditions.

Union representatives said the college has refused to budge on its “derisory” offer of 1.7 per cent pay rise as well as an extra £500 cash for the current year.

UCU is demanding a 10 per cent pay rise as part of its ‘New Deal for FE’ campaign.

The union claims that leaders are more than able to meet staff pay demands from the colleges’ “good” financial health.

Windsor Forest group achieved a positive education-specific EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) of £3.1 million in 2024-25 as well as a £1.4 million operating surplus.

The college group also held cash at the end of the year of £6.8 million.

“The college has simply insisted throughout the campaign that its ‘finances’ simply do not permit them to meet the AoC minimum recommendation of a 4 per cent consolidated pay award,” a UCU spokesperson said.

The union lambasted Windsor Forest CEO Gillian May’s pay rise last year, claiming her salary rose 7.8 per cent, or £10,000.

However, latest accounts show May took a 2.4 per cent pay rise to her basic wage last year, earning a salary of £171,000 up from £167,000.

Her total remuneration rose by £10,000 compared with 2024 – increasing from £211,000 to £221,000 – but most of this was due to a rise in pension contributions.

May will become a deputy FE Commissioner in June.

Windsor blows towards strike action

Fifty-seven UCU members at the 111-strong branch voted in November that they were prepared to strike, based on a 58 per cent response rate.

UCU did not specify how many workers will be walking out tomorrow, but told FE Week that all staff are entitled to strike, whether a UCU member or not.

Windsor Forest College group employs over 900 people, of which around four in 10 are lecturers, its latest accounts state.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Our members have no choice but to strike yet again as Gillian May is refusing to do the bare minimum and meet the employer body’s recommended rates of pay.

“It is scandalous that despite trying to enforce poverty pay rates for frontline teaching and support staff, she accepted a £10,000 pay bump.”

Windsor Forest College Group declined to comment.