STRIKING BACK
Lecturers’ vote of no confidence against principal Thomson
Lecturers at Forth Valley College have issued a vote of no confidence against the principal there, Dr Ken Thomson.
They are furious over what they consider to be his “unprofessional” behaviour on picket lines during the recent national dispute over pay and conditions.
The college’s branch of the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers Association intend to lodge complaints about Dr Thomson with Scottish Government ministers and the Scottish Funding Council, which provides financial support for higher education institutions..
About 40 per cent of FVC’s 313 lecturers and curriculum managers took part in the series of one-day strikes, which began in April with some of those involved mounting picket lines outside the Stirling campus.
In a release issued to the Observer, Forth Valley branch of the EIS-FELA claim Dr Thomson used “inappropriate language and tone to lecturers gathered as part of legally sanctioned strike action”.
They allege that on May 3, at a picket at Stirling during the second one-day strike, EIS president Margaret Smith was witness to a the principal’s “provocative” approaches.
It is claimed by the branch that Dr Thomson referred to the lecturers taking part in the dispute as “pathetic”.
Lecturers also believe that during the strike Dr Thomson circulated “misinformation” about the classes which were due to go ahead, “causing students upset and undue stress”.
Billy McChord, convener of the union’s FVC branch, said following their vote of no confidence in Dr Thomson, they twice complained about the principal’s alleged behaviour to the college’s board of management.
The lecturers also asked for disciplinary action against Dr Thomson but say that on both occasions, their concerns were “summarily dismissed” by acting chairperson Anne Mearns.
Mr McChord said they now felt they had no option but to take their complaint to Scottish Government further education minister Shirley-Anne Somerville and Cabinet Secretary for Education John Swinney.
A union spokesperson said: “It is with deep disappointment that the branch feels it needs to protest to Ministers because of the refusal of the board to deal with this matter on a local level, however, we simply cannot accept the principal’s behaviour being swept under the carpet.”
A spokesperson for FVC board of management, said: “Members gave full consideration to allegations made by the FVC branch of EIS-FELA and also sought independent legal advice on the issues.
“The board’s unanimous conclusion was that no action was merited and they retain their full confidence in and support for Dr Thomson in his role of principal of the college.
“Throughout the period of industrial action, the focus of both the board and the college’s senior management team was to minimise disruption to students at a critical point in the academic year.
“College senior management therefore worked closely with teaching departments to cover classes where possible and to keep our students, partners, schools and our community updated on the action.”
EIS-FELA members took strike action after accusing college bosses of failing to honour a pay and conditions package agreed last year.
The dispute came to an end last month after the union and college bosses came to an accord on the package which will bring lecturers’ salaries up to £40,000 a year.
The board’s conclusion was that no action was merited and they retain support for Dr Thomson