Scottish school lecturers begin boycott as a part of industrial motion
S
cotland’s school lecturers have begun industrial motion by refusing to enter pupil marks into recording techniques and dealing to rule as a part of a battle for larger wages.
Members of the EIS-Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-Fela) throughout Scotland’s 26 faculties began their motion wanting strike on Tuesday after its members backed the transfer final month.
Andrea Bradley, EIS basic secretary, warned: “College leaders and the Scottish Government now only have a short window of opportunity to avoid significant disruption that would mean students not being able to progress due to assessment results not being entered into college systems.
“Despite the months of warnings that this industrial action would be undertaken, college employers have still failed to produce a pay offer that is acceptable amidst a cost-of-living crisis and the Scottish Government has failed to pay any attention to this dispute.”
The Scottish Government should additionally step up and intervene to make sure that school lecturers obtain truthful pay and the FE sector receives satisfactory ranges of funding. The managed decline of Scotland’s faculties should finish
Gavin Donoghue, director of College Employers Scotland, mentioned it was “deeply disappointing” the union had began the motion and it might have a “a serious impact on college students at a crucial time in their courses”.
As a part of the commercial motion affecting the greater than 300,000 school college students north of the border, union members will nonetheless mark work however not enter it into recording techniques.
And the work to rule motion will imply, the union mentioned, that school lecturers not perform duties past these acknowledged of their contract, together with their working hours.
EIS-Fela warned if the motion didn’t see the universities come again with a proposal they felt was appropriate, they may elevate the stakes and strike in the beginning of the educational 12 months in August.
On April 14, the union revealed that some 78% of members who voted in its poll backed a walkout, whereas 94% backed motion wanting strike. There was a 53% turnout.
Since then College Employers Scotland upped their proposal to supply a “two-year pay deal of 3.5% in 2022/23 and 3.5% in 2023/24, providing a 7% cumulative pay rise across both years”.
Mr Donoghue mentioned: “This improved offer comes at considerable cost to colleges – almost £24 million over both years – at a time when they are receiving flat cash funding from the Scottish Government and with other costs increasing rapidly.
“College employers will do everything they can to minimise the effect of industrial action, including action short of strike.
“We will also be seeking to meet the EIS-Fela again as soon as possible to reach an agreement on pay so colleges can continue delivering the world-class learning experience our students rightly expect and deserve.
“Importantly, employers have also sought, and will continue to seek, meetings with the Scottish Government to request additional funding for staff pay deals.”
EIS-Fela has requested for a £5,000 rise for its members.
On Tuesday, Anne Marie Harley, EIS-Fela president, mentioned that “college lecturers deserve a fair pay award in line with other public sector workers”.
“College leaders must now call publicly for increased funding for Scotland’s FE (further education) sector in the way that EIS-Fela have been doing since last year,” she mentioned.
“Passing on cuts is a dereliction of leadership. The Scottish Government must also step up and intervene to ensure that college lecturers receive fair pay and the FE sector receives adequate levels of funding.
“The managed decline of Scotland’s colleges must end.”
A Scottish Government spokesman mentioned: “It is for the college unions and the employers to negotiate pay and terms and conditions voluntarily, in the spirit of collaboration and co-operation.
“The Scottish Government is not directly involved in the national collective bargaining process.
“It is important that unions and college employers continue to hold talks to avoid any potential industrial action and subsequent disruption to learners.
“We expect management and unions to make every effort to reach a settlement that is fair and affordable.”