Education / Improved college lecturer pay offer welcomed by union
THE NATIONAL dispute over college lecturers’ salaries could be about to come to an end after an agreement was reached in principle on an improved pay offer.
Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association and the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) reached the agreement last Wednesday, and the two organisations will met again this week to potentially finalise the deal.
The offer has gone out to ballot among the union’s members, with officers recommending it is accepted.
Lecturers at Shetland College joined colleagues across Scotland in undertaking strike action on a number of occasions in the last few months.
They argued for a fair cost of living pay increase of four per cent over the three years from 2017 to 2020.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “Whilst the improved offer falls short of our original ambition, it is a significant improvement on where we were only a few weeks ago.
“The EIS-FELA executive was clear that this is the best offer available through negotiation, without further significant strike action being required.
“It has agreed to recommend acceptance on that basis, although members will have the option of voting to continue with industrial action.”
Colleges Scotland chief executive Shona Struthers said the improved offer to the EIS-FELA “puts £1,900 more into every lecturer’s pocket in return for agreement on terms and conditions”.
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