First-day walkout hits Fife College

Lecturers at Fife College took to the streets across the kingdom.

Alison Davidson, Fife College EISFELA branch secretar y, said: “Lecturers regret that we have been forced into this action by the intransigence of college management.

“The Scottish Government promised a return to national bargaining in the college sector, and the creation of fair and equitable national pay scales to address the huge differences in pay scales in Scotland’s colleges.

“Lecturers in Fife College are paid almost £4,500 less than their colleagues in North East Scotland College.

“After a year and a half of negotiations, neither of these commitments has been met and colleges have imposed a pay settlement that widens, rather than narrows, pay inequity across the sector.

“We hope that our support-staff colleagues, students and the wider college community will understand our reasons for taking this action as we seek a fair pay settlement and delivery of the promises that were made to lecturers.

“All we are asking for is equality across the sector.”

Picket lines were in place at the St Brycedale campus in Kirkcaldy, as well as the Rosyth, Halbeath and Stenton campuses, early yesterday morning.

Yesterday’s action took place on a non-teaching day and those striking believe there will be a greater impact when the next scheduled days of industrial action – Tuesday and Wednesday March 22 and 23 – arrive.

The Courier understands a meeting with management is scheduled for today, and it is hoped those talks may avert further action.

However, lecturers striking said they would be “in it for the long haul” if there is no resolution to the dispute.

A Fife College spokesperson said the college was disappointed by the national decision to strike. “We will do everything we can to minimise disruption to students but inevitably some disruption will occur,” they added.

Lecturers at the St Brycedale campus in Kirkcaldy get their message across.