Fewer than four in ten staff joined the national strike day in colleges yesterday (29 February 2024), as turnout fell compared with the last Scotland-wide strike day in September 2023.

Yesterday’s action was called amid an ongoing pay dispute between college employers and the UNISON and EIS-FELA trade unions.

Data from colleges indicates that only 29% of college support staff took part. This is down from 34% who participated in the national strike day on 7 September 2023, when both UNISON and Unite members were called out.

The latest figures also show lecturer participation in yesterday’s strike was just 38% compared with 47% on 7 September 2023.

Gavin Donoghue, Director of College Employers Scotland, said:

“I would like to thank the vast majority of college lecturers and support staff who continued to work yesterday, despite strike action. This meant around 80% of colleges in Scotland remained open so students could continue with their education.

“The data indicates only 29% of college support staff and 38% of lecturers participated in yesterday’s strike, which is significantly lower than on the last national strike day in September.

“This decreasing turnout is clear evidence that the majority of college lecturers and support staff would rather assist their students than strike for an increase to the already substantial offer of a £5,000 consolidated pay rise across three academic years.

“The employers’ full and final pay offer, if accepted by UNISON and the EIS-FELA, would deliver an average pay rise of nearly 16% for support staff and an average of 11.5% for college lecturers. For support staff earning less than £25,000 the increase would be over 21% and college lecturers at the start of the National Pay Scale would benefit from a rise of over 14%.

“College Employers Scotland has provided its full and final pay offer to all of the trade unions in the college sector, and it has already been overwhelmingly accepted by members of Unite and the GMB. We urge EIS-FELA and UNISON to follow the example of their fellow trade unions by formally balloting their members on the employers’ pay offer.

“Given the fair pay offer already on the table, and yesterday’s reduced strike turnout, we hope the EIS-FELA and UNISON reconsider their plans for any further strikes.

“College Employers Scotland remains open to meeting with the trade unions, either formally or informally, to avoid further disruptive industrial action.”