Created on: 17 May 2024
At a meeting with College Employers Scotland (CES) yesterday (Thursday 16th May), EIS-FELA submitted a revised four year pay claim in a bid to break the current deadlock and receive an improved pay offer for their members.
Despite lengthy talks, CES were unable to enter into meaningful negotiations and could not offer enough progress in the discussions for the EIS-FELA National Representatives to consider the suspension of their upcoming strike action.
The expectation from both sides is to meet early next week, in the hope of resolving the dispute but the EIS-FELA will continue with their planned calendar of strike action until tangible progress has been made.
An EIS spokesperson said “Although a revised pay claim was tabled to CES at the meeting, the employer’s side was unable to offer any assurances on certain elements of the pay uplift as well other parts of the claim. This is extremely disappointing, given that the EIS-FELA were hopeful these discussions would have been able to achieve enough tangible progress to consider suspending the proposed strike action next week, which will now go ahead as planned. We would urge CES to come back to the discussions early next week with firm proposals which address our claim.”
"College lecturing staff want to be back in colleges, delivering classes and helping their students achieve their qualifications. However, they will continue to fight in order to receive a suitable pay rise which addresses some of the financial pain and stress they have had to endure during the worst cost-of-living crisis in recent times.”
College lecturing staff across Scotland will take strike action on the following dates: