A growing Windsor Forest Colleges strike pay dispute has led to significant disruption across four further education institutions, as staff stage industrial action over what unions describe as an inadequate pay offer.
Staff from the Windsor Forest Colleges Group (WFCG), which includes Strode’s College, Windsor College, Langley College and the Berkshire College of Agriculture, have taken part in a two-day strike after rejecting a proposed pay rise of just 1.7%. Union leaders argue the offer falls well below inflation and fails to reflect the rising cost of living affecting education workers.
Staff reject 1.7% pay rise amid rising living costs
The dispute centres on a pay offer made by college management earlier this year, which union representatives say is insufficient given current economic pressures.
Monish Bhandari, branch secretary for the University and College Union (UCU), said staff had initially sought a 10% increase, but negotiations failed to produce any improvement on the original offer.
“The offer wasn’t fair and falls well below inflation,” Bhandari said, highlighting that the proposal is also less than half of the 4% pay recommendation made by the Association of Colleges.
He added that the lack of progress in negotiations has left staff frustrated and increasingly willing to take industrial action.
Union warns of worsening financial strain on staff
Union leaders say the Windsor Forest Colleges strike pay dispute reflects wider financial pressures facing education workers across the UK.
Bhandari pointed to rising costs in essential areas such as housing, energy and food, which are placing additional strain on staff incomes.
“Everything around us is increasing – council tax, fuel prices, heating bills and food shopping,” he said.
“Our staff work hard and shouldn’t have to be on universal credit, which some of them are.”
He also described the personal impact on staff, noting that some are forced to make difficult choices between basic needs.
“We are teaching young people further education, yet behind the scenes we are having to make the choice of putting the heating on or feeding our own children,” he said.
Concerns over pay disparity and staff retention
The dispute has also highlighted concerns about pay inequality within the college group.
Open records show that the group’s principal and chief executive earns up to £174,000 annually, a figure union representatives say contrasts sharply with the financial struggles faced by teaching staff.
Bhandari argued that low pay is contributing to recruitment and retention challenges.
“We are losing good, talented staff, struggling to retrain colleagues and finding it impossible to recruit because we can’t offer a competitive package,” he said.
“Many of my colleagues are leaving the profession because teaching doesn’t pay.”
Union signals potential escalation of strike action
The University and College Union has warned that further industrial action could follow if negotiations do not improve.
UCU general secretary Jo Grady said staff are facing increasing hardship and require a pay deal that reflects their contribution to education.
“Our members are struggling to make ends meet,” she said.
“It’s simply not good enough and we will be forced to escalate the dispute and strike later this month, unless management comes back to the table with an improved offer.”
Colleges yet to respond publicly
At the time of reporting, Windsor Forest Colleges Group has not issued a formal response to the strike action or the union’s demands.
The lack of immediate comment has added to uncertainty over whether negotiations will resume in the near future.
Impact on students and education services
The Windsor Forest Colleges strike pay dispute is expected to disrupt classes and services across all four colleges involved.
Students in Berkshire and Surrey may face cancelled lessons, delayed coursework and reduced access to support services during the strike period.
Further industrial action could intensify disruption if the dispute continues into the coming weeks.
Wider education sector pay tensions in the UK
The dispute reflects broader challenges within the UK’s further education sector, where staff have long raised concerns about pay levels compared with school teachers and university lecturers.
Further education colleges often rely on government funding allocations, which unions argue have not kept pace with inflation or rising operational costs.
As a result, many institutions face difficulties offering competitive salaries, leading to recruitment shortages and increased workloads for existing staff.
In recent years, unions including the UCU have led multiple campaigns calling for improved pay, better working conditions and increased investment in education.
Growing pressure on government and employers
The Windsor Forest Colleges strike pay dispute adds to mounting pressure on both college management and the government to address funding and pay issues in the sector.
With inflation continuing to impact household finances, disputes over wages have become more frequent across public services, including education, healthcare and transport.
The outcome of this dispute could set a precedent for similar negotiations across the UK’s further education system.
As talks remain stalled, staff and students alike face ongoing uncertainty, with the possibility of further strikes looming if an agreement is not reached.