STRIKE action at Ayrshire College has been suspended again to allow further consultation with teaching staff.

The dispute has been rumbling on since August last year when the college introduced new working arrangements including a new timetable with reduced class lengths which lecturers’ union Educational Institute of Scotland/Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS/FELA) members claim they were not consulted about.

Discussions between college management and the union have failed to reach a settlement that is acceptable to union members despite their representatives recommending acceptance.

In the latest development, the union has requested a suspension of strike action to allow time to consult members further over the college’s proposal to introduce greater flexibility in class timetabling.

A spokesperson for the EIS confirmed that strike action would be called off to allow its Kilwinning membership to consider revised proposals.

An offer to take the matter to independent arbitration was rejected by the college management after the last round of talks. More talks are scheduled for the week beginning March 2, however, there will be no further strike action beforehand.

A spokesperson for Ayrshire College said: “Strike action has been suspended to allow continuing productive discussions with the union to continue.”