Lecturers in online protest
Depute leader Danny Gibson said: “Symbiosis is an excellent example of some of the cutting edge businesses in Stirling and I am delighted to see Colin and his team be given this opportunity.”
Stirling Council chief executive Carol Beattie said: “This is a monumental moment in the global fight against coronavirus and I’m incredibly proud this vaccine will be produced here.”
Scottish trade minister Ivan McKee said: “Symbiosis’ collaboration with Astrazeneca is a great example of how Scotland’s worldleading life sciences sector is working with partners across the globe to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. “Our life science sector has long been at the forefront of innovation and pioneering medical treatments and we will continue to support the industry.”
Lecturers at Forth Valley College took part in a virtual protest last week in an ongoing dispute over redundancies and terms and conditions.
The first phase of a management review, which includes teaching and administration functions, began in February and affects around 67 members of staff.
Forth Valley College launched its Futures Programme last November with the intention“to ensure the organisation is fit-for-purpose, sustainable and can meet the needs of the next generation of learners and their employers”.
A controversial instructor assessor post was introduced as part of this process.
In April the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) organised an online demonstration which condemned college management for continuing the redundancy process amid the coronavirus pandemic. It was followed by a further online protest last week.
The EIS said Forth Valley College aims to make lecturing staff redundant and replace them with less qualified staff on inferior terms and conditions.
A college spokesperson said:“Our board of management and senior management team have a duty to protect the long-term future of the college and a responsibility to provide our learners with access to education and training aligned to the needs of their future employers.
“We strongly believe that this is the right approach to ensure a sustainable future for the college and we are confident that the instructor assessor role will bring real added value to the student learning experience.
“We do, however, understand that change can be challenging at any time, particularly in these unprecedented circumstances that we now find ourselves in due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are therefore doing everything we can to support staff throughout this period and are taking into account their individual circumstances and preferences in regards to individual consultations.
“We have also been open and transparent throughout the consultation, providing regular updates and reasons and justification behind any decisions we have taken.
“Now more than ever, it is vital that the college management team and trade unions’current focus should be centred on the safe reopening of our campuses.
“This will ensure we continue to deliver the best possible learning experiences for our students and support the country’s recovery.
“We have had excellent support from our union colleagues throughout the current crisis and we hope we can continue with this as we move forward.”
The EIS was contacted for comment.