College staff have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action
MORAY COLLEGE STUDENTS could be in line for extra days off as the trade union representing college staff throughout Scotland revealed an “overwhelming” vote for strike action.
The EIS union said that 87.6% of their members have voted to back industrial action with their lecturers planning to strike on Thursday, March 17 – with a second two-day stoppage schedule for the week after.
A series of three-day stoppages are then planned by the union each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday throughout April, May and June unless their pay demands are met.
Staff at Scotland’s colleges have been told that their pay increase for this year has been pegged at 1% – however, their union is calling for action to address pay variations that see lecturers in Moray and the Highlands being paid up to £7000 less than their counterparts in other parts of Scotland.
Former college lecturer now Highlands and Moray MSP Mary Scanlon warned last week that strike action might result from her former colleagues unless promises made five years ago were addressed.
She told insideMoray: “Five years since national pay bargaining was promised, this still has not happened and now strike action has been suggested. It would not be acceptable for teachers, doctors and nurses to be paid different rates across Scotland – why should FE lecturers be treated any differently?”
Just over 61% of EIS members who are currently working in colleges voted in the strike ballot.