UNIONS representing staff in England’s further education colleges condemned the Association of Colleges yesterday after it submitted another “derisory” 1 per cent pay rise recommendation for workers.

The recommendation is the 13th below-inflation offer in a row.

In a joint pay claim submitted in October this year, University and College Union (UCU), Unison, National Education Union (NEU), Unite and GMB called for an increase in pay that moves to restore the 35 per cent cut in pay staff have suffered since 2009.