MP Supports Further Education Teachers

Neil Gerrard, Labour MP for Walthamstow, hosted a meeting at the House of Commons, of FE teachers from London Colleges demanding a better London weighting allowance. The meeting was arranged with members of NATFHE, the FE teachers union, who were striking for a day in support of their claim.

Mr Gerrard told the meeting that he backed their claim. "Before becoming an MP I worked as an FE teacher for nearly twenty five years, and was a member of NATFHE and chair of a College branch" said Mr Gerrard. "Currently FE teachers receive a London weighting which is much less than schoolteachers, Police officers, or firefighters. Experienced staff are leaving the profession because of pay levels."

"I believe that we should be paying people working in FE a London weighting comparable with other workers. We need to bring pay levels much closer to what is needed to deal with the reality of London prices, so that we can recruit and retain the staff we need in the Colleges of Further Education."

May 2004

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