Scottish College Lecturers, Support Staff from Across Scotland on Strike Over Pay Disputes

GG News Bureau

Glasgow (Scotland) UK. 13th Oct. Scottish College lecturers and support staff from across Scotland are on strike in a dispute about pay and concerns over underfunding, and redundancies.

More than 2,000 staff from three unions are taking part in the action, this is one of the longest strikes by the Scottish lecturer.

Scotland’s spending watchdog warned that colleges were at serious financial risk after an 8.5% drop in real terms funding since 2022.

EIS-FELA have previously rejected a pay offer from College Employers Scotland that has been forecasted to result in over 400 lecturing job losses across the further education sector. Last week, EIS-FELA members in all of Scotland’s colleges walked out in a National Day of Strike action, with hundreds gathering at a rally outside the Scottish parliament on the same day.

EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley said, “College lecturers deserve so much more from their employers and the Scottish Government.

“Beginning at New College Lanarkshire today, EIS-FELA members will undertake twelve days of rolling action and their frustration is not only wholly justified, but also growing.

“They have waited over one year, during a cost-of-living crisis, for a pay award and are faced with an offer, however it is spun, that their employers have stated will cost potentially over 400 lecturing jobs.

“Their actions will speak louder than any words and only action, beginning with a fully funded and fair pay award for college lectures, will avert this crisis in Scotland’s colleges.”

Dhruva Kumar as the Union Rep of EIS Lecturer Union- The largest and oldest Union, to save the jobs of Scottish Lecturers at Scotland’s Largest College-City of Glasgow College.

Dhruv Kumar is from Champaran Bihar and is the Head of the curriculum. After the pandemic, Scotland’s economy is melting down, and there are serious fund cuts in education.

The Scottish College sector has over 2000 lecturers, with a grade pay of £44.5 K ( (44 Lakh) salary. They are demanding a decent pay rise to meet the very high inflation rate of the UK. More than 200 jobs are at redundancy risk.

Dhruva Kumar says time is running out on both the Scottish Government and college Employers in Scotland, to avert the escalation of the crisis in Scotland’s colleges.

EIS-FELA National President, Anne Marie Harley said, “Following a strong first day of national strike action, members of the EIS-FELA are resolute in their campaign for fair pay and secure jobs.

“The Scottish Government must evidence its commitment to Further Education and no longer seek to distance itself while colleges are cut to the bone and college lecturers are already losing their livelihoods, with more likely to follow.

EIS (Educational Institute of Scotland) , the largest and most effective union, are on strike against the redundancies to ensure a better future for students, international students, Indian students, lecturers and promoted lecturers. City of Glasgow College is very popular with Indian students, more than 500 students from India come to this largest college in Scotland each year.

Charlie Montgomery, EIS-FELA branch convener at City of Glasgow College, said, “We face a significant challenge in attempting to have any meaningful negotiations with senior management at City of Glasgow College. We previously highlighted a culture of bullying, intimidation and authoritarian leadership evidenced by a survey carried out last year amongst members. We know there has been a restriction in national funding for FE but this has also allowed Principals, like ours, to exploit this funding cut to pursue a different agenda. We believe this is one of privatisation.”

Dhruva Kumar re-iterated Mr Montgomery’s statement “Despite the rhetoric from Scottish Government Ministers of Fair Work being at the heart of the FE sector, at City of Glasgow College it is empty and meaningless. EIS-FELA members have had enough of being derided and dismissed as public sector professionals at the college and our action will continue until there is an agreeable resolution.”