Scotland’s FE support staff unions and college representatives have hailed a “pivotal moment” and “significant staging post” as the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association has ratified a two-and-a-half-year pay offer for support staff in the college sector.
The Scottish FE sector returned to national bargaining only a few years ago after decades of individual colleges agreeing pay and conditions with their own staff, which led to significant disparities across the country. Since the return to national bargaining, the sector has seen national strike action from both teaching and support staff.
The support staff offer is now the subject of a consultative ballot with negotiators representing the support staff trade unions - UNISON, UNITE, and GMB - who recommend that members accept the proposals. The consultative ballot will run from tomorrow until 3 October.
John Gribben, director of employment services at Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said this was “a pivotal moment and an extremely positive development for national bargaining and the college sector”. “If the offer is approved by support staff trade union members, it would provide long-term stability, certainty, and allow for the implementation of a national scheme of job evaluation,” he added.
John Gallacher, Scottish organiser at support staff union UNISON, said: “If our members accept this deal - as recommended by UNISON - it represents a significant staging post in national bargaining. There is much still to be done on national job grades to achieve harmonisation and equal pay for support staff.”
What the offer would mean
Pay:
Year one 1 April 2018 - 31 March 2019:
- 3% increase for staff earning less than £36,500 with a minimum payment of £650 (FTE)
- 2% increase for staff earning more than £36,500, with a maximum payment of £1,600 (FTE) for those earning more than £80,000.
Year two 1 April 2019 - 31 March 2020:
- 3% increase for staff earning less than £36,500 with a minimum payment of £650 (FTE)
- 2% increase for staff earning more than £36,500, with a maximum payment of £1,600 (FTE) for those earning more than £80,000.
Year three 1 April 2020 - 31 August 2020:
- £300 (FTE) or 5/12ths Public Sector Pay Policy, whichever is greater.
A range of improved national terms and conditions of service, including:
- Increase of annual leave from 44 days to 45
- Commitment to developing a national programme of support staff training
