Lecturers’ pay rise offer rejected

The organisation representing Scotland’s colleges has said it is “extremely disappointed” after its improved pay offer was rejected by lecturers.

Colleges Scotland has been locked in a dispute with union representatives and has now held five meetings with the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) without reaching agreement.

The body, which represents the further education sector, said its threeyear deal would ensure all lecturers receive a minimum of £1,600 for 2017-18 to 2018-19, followed by a consolidated 2.5 per cent pay increase for 2019-20.

But lecturers want at least a 14.8 per cent pay increase on top of pay harmonisation, saying the organisation had conflated the issue with annual cost of living increases.

It said pay negotiations were “ongoing”.