Strike action is ‘with a heavy heart’ as jobs dispute rumbles on
College lecturers walk out as talks with bosses continue
College lecturers in Paisley are taking part in two days of strike action as the row over their jobs continues.
The latest strikes - which took place yesterday and another planned for today - comes after three previous days of industrial action, ahead of a further nine days of strikes also planned for April and May.
Strikes are also taking place at West College Scotland campuses in Clydebank, Greenock and Glasgow, with more days of action planned next week.
Lecturers are angry over what they claim are plans by their employers, Colleges Scotland, to replace them with unqualified and lower paid instructor posts.
The EIS/ FELA say this has already occurred in other institutions across the country and will result in poor teaching practices and “incessant stress” for staff due to the increased pressure and limited time to prepare.
Colleges Scotland has denied this is the case and said the strike action is “entirely unnecessary”.
The EIS/FELA trade union last week opened a ballot asking its members to take action short of strike action, such as working to rule and/ or a resulting boycott which has also been slammed by Colleges Scotland as “disappointing”.
However, John Kelly, EIS/FELA branch secretary at West College Scotland said lecturers are striking with a “heavy heart” and want the situation resolved quickly as they do not want to impact students.
He said: “These changes are already happening at other colleges so to say that this isn’t happening simply isn’t true.
“We met with Colleges Scotland on Monday to try and resolve this as we do not want this dragging on.
“We have made some progress but it still isn’t good enough.
“It is a disappointing situation and we are on strike with a heavy heart.
“It has been a tough year for staff and students and we want this resolved quickly.”
Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association has claimed talks have been ongoing with EIS/FELA for “many months” with only one outstanding issue surrounding the wording of a national role profile for lecturers yet to be finalised in order for an agreement to be found.
Colleges Scotland also denied the EIS/FELA claims the Employers’ Association didn’t “ratify the deal” as it claims the discussion was ongoing to obtain further clarification.
It says this is an “entirely normal” part of the negotiation process until both sides reach an agreement.
A spokesperson for the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said: “We know students are worried however colleges are taking steps to ensure that disruption for individuals will be at an absolute minimum at this critical time in the academic year.
“The EIS/ FELA has refused repeated requests to suspend the strikes while meaningful discussions carry on – national industrial action is wholly unnecessary.”
It is a disappointing situation and we are on strike with a heavy heart