The strike action is due to take place on the following dates:
- November 25th 2019
- December 2nd 2019
- December 3rd 2019
- December 9th 2019
- December 10th 2019
- December 11th 2019
Please note that all of our campuses, City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks, and Eyre Street and Fir Vale centres, will open as normal in the event of strike action. All classes and examinations will go ahead as planned; teaching staff are not affected by this dispute.
Paul Simpson, Executive Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development, The Sheffield College, said: “Any strike action is regrettable, and we have made every effort to consult with the six staff affected and Unison during the last five months, and have amended our proposals following their feedback.”
He added: “This dispute affects six administration roles covering reception, student services and switchboard. We are proposing a restructure to provide a better service to our students. All of those staff would be offered permanent jobs in the proposed new structure and with the same salary - there would be no pay reduction.”
Key facts:
- The Sheffield College has around 1,500 staff across four main campuses at City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks, and two centres at Eyre Street and Fir Vale.
- The industrial action has been called by Unison in response to proposed changes to administration roles that aim to provide a better service to students.
- The dispute affects six staff in total in reception, student services and switchboard who are based at four campuses – City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks.
- Under the proposals, the College is asking staff to work on an evening rota to ensure a reception service for students occurs during evenings when the College is open. No one is required to do this more than once a week or later than 7pm and for some people it is less frequent or only until 6pm.
- Staff are also being asked to work at a different campus from the one they are usually based at, and that is closest to where they live, once a week. It is normal that College employees can work across all College sites as required, in line with their contract.
- All campuses, City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks, will open as normal in the event of strike action. All classes and examinations will go ahead as planned. Minimal disruption is expected.
- Contingency arrangements have been made by the College to ensure that any of services affected by any strike will be available to students as usual.
About The Sheffield College
- The Sheffield College is a further education college that provides academic, vocational and professional qualifications to approximately 16,000 young people and adults. Its mission is to transform your life through learning. The College offers a broad curriculum that includes apprenticeships, vocational diplomas, A Levels, access courses, and foundation and honours degrees, and has four main campuses: City, Hillsborough, Olive Grove and Peaks as well as two centres at Fir Vale and Eyre Street.
- More than 16,000 students and apprentices studied with the College during the last academic year 2018/19. Of those learners, 2,800 were apprentices. The College works with approximately 2,150 employers and its economic impact on Sheffield City Region annually is approximately £282.5 million. Source: EMSI Economic Impact Study 2019.
