College lecturers walk out third strike day over pay

6 March 2019, 10:25 | Updated: 6 March 2019, 10:28

College lecturers will walk out for a third day of strike action this year as employers accused them of "gambling with students' futures".

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland - Further Education Lecturers' Association (EIS-FELA) are demanding what they say is a fair cost of living increase, in line with public sector pay policy.

They will strike on Wednesday after 24-hour walkouts in January and February.

EIS-FELA said it has rejected a 2% increase offer over three years, and accused employers' association Colleges Scotland of seeking to tear-up existing commitments on lecturers' working conditions.

They warned of possible further action, including a boycott of college results systems.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: "It is disappointing that Colleges Scotland failed to accept the EIS offer to suspend strike action earlier this week.

"EIS-FELA put a straightforward proposition to them which didn't include additional money but which would have allowed negotiations to continue.

"Colleges Scotland rejected this and therefore the programme of industrial action will continue with today's strike, with a strong possibility of escalating action to follow."

Colleges Scotland said lecturers in Scotland were "by far the best paid across the UK" and it was disappointed EIS-FELA had turned down six improved pay offers.

John Gribben, director or employment, said: "The EIS-FELA is balloting their members to escalate short of strike action and has vowed to withhold assessment results from colleges, which would prevent students from graduating and progressing to other college or university courses.

"This is a gamble by the EIS-FELA, designed to get the Scottish Government to intervene as they calculate that will get them more money, but they are recklessly gambling with students' futures.

"The Scottish Government has made it clear that there is no more money for lecturers' pay and colleges have to find this additional £12.6 million pay deal on offer by making cuts.

"If there were any more money available, our priorities would be for additional investment in enhancing students' experiences and on further improving college campuses, as £65.8 million is already being spent over three years on lecturers' pay and conditions."