Argyll College hits out at ‘misleading’ union claims

Lecturers at Argyll College are in danger of compulsory redundancy, a union has claimed.

Teaching union the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has also said two lecturers in the hairdressing SVQ at the Rothesay campus of Argyll College have lost their posts as the course is not regarded as financially viable.

The college, which has nine campuses across the council area, has branded the EIS statement ‘inaccurate and highly misleading’.

A spokesperson for the EIS said: ‘The college management has used the excuse that the number of students has to be offset against the rising staffing costs caused by the intention to sign up to the national bargaining framework.

‘They have failed to show what marketing has been done for the course this year thereby failing to show they have attempted to increase student numbers.

‘Under terms and conditions nationally agreed with trade unions, further education colleges in Scotland should have all lecturing staff on permanent contracts after two years continuous service, harmonised annual lecturing salaries, and have written fulltime or fractional contracts, instead of being on ad-hoc hourly rates of pay.

‘Argyll College has been financially supported by the Scottish Funding Council to shadow the national bargaining framework for the past three years, but has only now begun making the necessary changes to contracts.’

A spokesperson for Argyll College said: ‘Like all public sector organisations, we are required to ensure public funds are spent effectively. This may mean that, from time to time, we decide to discontinue some courses.

‘We are currently in consultation with a very small number of staff and we will follow the college’s redundancy procedure and comply with all legal requirements as we move towards an outcome.’