Scottish college lecturers plan third week of strikes in pay dispute

Lecturers represented by EIS FELA at most colleges have taken part in five days of national strike action over the past fortnight and will go on strike for four days next week.

The union has also been offered a rise worth £5,000 over three years.

But it argues this is poorer than the offer made to other public sector workers and fears colleges will need to cut jobs or services to pay for it.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Following only limited progress in talks with college employers today, EIS FELA is not in a position to consider suspension of any part of its industrial action.

“Employers – and the minister for further education – need to show much more willing than they have so far, to bring about a satisfactory resolution.”

“In the meantime, the EIS has made up to £5m available to striking members collectively to mitigate the financial hardship that is being inflicted on them by the refusal of employers to make a decent pay offer and the continuing failure of the Scottish government to intervene meaningfully in the dispute.”

College Employers Scotland (CES) has been approached for comment.