College lecturers set to go on strike from this week in row over pay

The EIS-Further Education Lecturers Association (FELA) union balloted members at the end of last month on potential strike action, more than 70 per cent of members voting indicated their willingness to take strike action and over 80 per cent indicated that they are ready to use action short of strike, including a resulting boycott in terms of qualifications.

As a result, EIS-FELA negotiators requested further negotiations with employers, in an effort to avoid further disruptive industrial action. This was unsuccessful.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan, speaking after the results of th ballot came in,  said:”Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic thus far, college lecturers have stood up and delivered for students. They have gone above and beyond in ensuring that those who attend college, to gain the skills and qualifications they need, have continued to receive high standards of teaching and learning.

“They have done this despite an EIS survey showing EIS-FELA members experiencing rising levels of stress and workload, while many college lecturers have received no wellbeing check in from their employers.

Mr Flanagan added: “Words of gratitude, and a pay offer that does not begin to address the pressures on the cost of living, are not enough. Since the advent of national bargaining, there has been only one occasion in which college employers have made an acceptable pay award, without EIS-FELA members taking industrial action.

“The EIS urges the employers’ side of the NJNC to buck this trend and accept EIS-FELA’s offer of further negotiations and to return to the table with a pay offer that avoids unnecessary and wholly avoidable industrial action in the FE sector.”

If there is no resolution to the dispute, lecturers will go on strike on Wednesday, April 20. Further strikes will follow on April 26 and 27, May 4 and 5, May 10-12, May 17-19 and May 24-26.

Gavin Donoghue, director of College Employers Scotland, said: “It is disappointing that the EIS-FELA has decided to strike despite being made an increased offer at negotiations two weeks ago.

“The original offer to lecturers included a £150 one-off payment, recognising their contributions during the pandemic and, along with the £850 consolidated payment in recognition of the work done throughout the pandemic, was a higher pay offer than that already made to and accepted by teachers, civil servants, police and the fire service.

“This pay offer would ensure Scotland’s lecturers remain by far the best paid in the United Kingdom and continue to enjoy the best terms and conditions in the four nations.

“In a final attempt to avert industrial action, College Employers Scotland offered an additional £50 to the one-off payment to stop strike action going ahead, which was rejected. 

“Our offer is in fact beyond what colleges can afford, we have pushed our resources to the maximum because we value the work that lecturers do and wish to avoid further disruption to our students. 

“Colleges are already in deficit by £5.7m and the sector is facing a real-terms cut in funding of £51.9m this autumn.  

"Strike action will not result in an increased offer – there simply isn’t any more funding that colleges can put forward.

“I want to reassure students facing exams and assessments in the coming weeks that colleges are taking steps to ensure disruption is minimal and that every measure will be taken to support them during this incredibly important time in their lives.

“Our door remains open if the EIS-FELA negotiators wish to meet to discuss any practical, deliverable and affordable plans to end this disruptive and unnecessary dispute.”

But Mr Flanaghan rejected this statement from Mr Donoghue, saying: “Statements comparing the terms and conditions of college lecturers in Scotland with those elsewhere in the UK ignore the fact that these conditions of service, including pay, have been hard-won through EIS-FELA members taking collective action, which has been repeatedly opposed by senior management and their representatives.

“EIS-FELA remain committed to negotiating an end to this dispute and indeed requested the last dispute resolution meeting that was held.

"However, at this point, there has been no formal invitation from the management side of the NJNC for further talks.

"College lecturers deliver for students; management representatives must return to the table with a pay offer that truly values their efforts”.

Strike action is scheduled to take place on the following dates:

Wednesday 20 April 2022

Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 April 2022

Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 May 2022

Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11, and Thursday 12 May 2022

Tuesday 17, Wednesday 18, and Thursday 19 May 2022

Tuesday 24, Wednesday 25, and Thursday 26 May 2022.

Staff at Ayrshire College have advised students to assume that their class is not going ahead if it falls on any of the above dates, unless told otherwise by their lecturer.