Lecturers in Scotland’s colleges have suspended next week’s planned strike, it has been announced. Members of the EIS-FELA union have been taking strike action since March in an ongoing dispute over what they say are plans to replace lecturers with poorer-paid, lower-qualified staff.
According to the union, a deal that could have ended the dispute was agreed some time ago but employer representative body Colleges Scotland did not ratify it.
In an email to members, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said this evening: “Negotiations at [the National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC)] concluded a short time ago, with agreement reached between your national negotiators and Colleges Scotland.
“Two days of national strike action have been suspended next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, to afford both sides to take the agreement to their respective bodies for ratification. This will require an emergency EIS-FELA executive committee to be convened early next week.”
Mr Flanagan added that a local dispute at Forth Valley College would continue with three days of local strike action “and with the full solidarity of EIS-FELA nationally”.
“The ballot for action short of strike (ASOS) continues. Please use your vote, vote yes and ensure that, if required, the strongest possible message is sent to your employers.”
A spokesperson for Colleges Scotland said: “Following lengthy and productive discussions today, good progress was made and a consensus position reached which both sides are taking to their respective memberships.
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“As a result of the position reached, the strike action planned for Tuesday 27 April and Wednesday 28 April 2021 has been suspended. The suspension is good news for students and staff.”
Speaking last month, EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said that lecturers were standing in defence of lecturing jobs and high standards of teaching across the Scottish further education sector.
“An agreement is in place to end the dispute, and it has been formally ratified by EIS-FELA. All that it will take to end this strike is for Colleges Scotland to formally sign up to the existing agreement incorporating their own proposals,” he said.
“Colleges owe it to staff and students to end this dispute by ratifying the NJNC agreement. Lecturers want to return to work and continue to deliver a high-quality learning experience for students - it is up to the colleges and Colleges Scotland to ensure that this happens.”
Colleges Scotland has insisted there is no national plan to replace lecturers with lower paid staff.
At Scottish election hustings hosted by the EIS yesterday, panel members were asked if they supported the industrial action taken by lecturers - and asked to answer with a simple “yes” or “no”.
Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens said they supported striking college staff, but Conservative education spokesman Jamie Greene said that, while he sympathised, he was against strike action and education secretary John Swinney said he wanted to see the dispute resolved through negotiation.
