Comment on the EIS-FELA Statutory Ballot
Gavin Donoghue, Director of College Employers Scotland, said: “It is disappointing that the EIS-FELA has decided to open a statutory ballot for industrial action when there is a negotiation meeting scheduled for next week to discuss their pay claim.
“Colleges in Scotland are proud that lecturers have the best pay, and terms and conditions, of any lecturers across the UK. However, the current EIS-FELA pay claim of a £5,000 increase is unaffordable for the college sector as it would increase a lecturer’s starting salary by over 14% to more than £40,000 a year, at a time when colleges are facing severe cost pressures.
“The current EIS-FELA pay claim would cost colleges an additional £37m a year. But the college sector is facing a flat-cash budget going forward and right now colleges are already using voluntary redundancy schemes to cope with current budget cuts.
“Colleges have a duty to protect the world-class learning opportunities provided for their students. It is, therefore, especially disheartening to see the EIS-FELA considering a boycott of student results prior to the summer.
“College Employers Scotland continues to speak to government to seek additional funding for staff pay claims, and our offer to work jointly with EIS-FELA remains open.”
“Colleges in Scotland are proud that lecturers have the best pay, and terms and conditions, of any lecturers across the UK. However, the current EIS-FELA pay claim of a £5,000 increase is unaffordable for the college sector as it would increase a lecturer’s starting salary by over 14% to more than £40,000 a year, at a time when colleges are facing severe cost pressures.
“The current EIS-FELA pay claim would cost colleges an additional £37m a year. But the college sector is facing a flat-cash budget going forward and right now colleges are already using voluntary redundancy schemes to cope with current budget cuts.
“Colleges have a duty to protect the world-class learning opportunities provided for their students. It is, therefore, especially disheartening to see the EIS-FELA considering a boycott of student results prior to the summer.
“College Employers Scotland continues to speak to government to seek additional funding for staff pay claims, and our offer to work jointly with EIS-FELA remains open.”
