College strike could be ramped up as support staff balloted on action
Lecturers will be joined by their colleagues if vote passed
College support staff could join lecturers in walking out on strike if a vote goes through.
Members of Unison Scotland are to be asked whether they want to move to industrial action in a row over pay after 92 per cent rejected the employers’ final offer.
The official ballot will open on Wednesday 27 April. It will be the first national strike vote in further education for six years.
Teaching staff represented by EIS-FELA have also begun strike action on pay this week with lecturers at West College Scotland campus in Paisley walking out on Wednesday.
The employers’ final offer is £850, with a £150 one-off payment. However, Unison argues that, with inflation reaching 30-year high, this offer would constitute a significant real-terms pay cut.
Collette Bradley, chair of Unison Scotland further education branch, said: “The final pay offer for college staff fails to protect the most vulnerable from the ravages of inflation and rising costs.
“Nor does it compensate them for efforts throughout the pandemic to keep colleges operational, whether that be in the form of opening and cleaning buildings or turning their homes into workplaces. There has been no compensation paid to homeworkers to date.”
Chris Greenshields, branch secretary of Unison Scotland further education branch added: “All unions in the college sector are now in dispute on pay.
“Staff deserved a pay rise to meet inflation by September 2021 and the employers are now seven months late. Our members need a proper pay rise now.
“Support staff in colleges are struggling with record rising cost of living and the least they should expect is some more urgency from the employers to address this.”
Gavin Donoghue, director of College Employers Scotland, said: “It is disappointing that the support side trade unions have rejected a good pay offer.
“Our offer gives clear recognition of the outstanding work carried out by college staff throughout the pandemic.
“Our offer totals £1,000 - a consolidated award of £850 on all salary points, effective from 1st September 2021, and a £150 payment in recognition of the support staff efforts during the pandemic.
“College employers have gone as far as we can in the current dire financial climate with the funds we have available from Scottish Government.
“We are hopeful that support side trade unions come back to the table to accept what is a very good offer.”
Talks are due to resume on Friday, April 22.
The final pay offer for college staff fails to protect the most vulnerable from the ravages of inflation