Created on: 04 Sep 2023
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland – Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) will continue their programme of strike action at City of Glasgow College this week.
Picket lines will be in place at the college’s City and Riverside campuses from tomorrow (Tuesday) for the rest of the week, with additional strike days to follow over the subsequent weeks.
Whilst EIS-FELA are on strike nationally in pursuit of a fair pay settlement from Colleges Scotland, members at City of Glasgow College are entering another four weeks of strike action in their local dispute. This comes after five weeks of strike action prior to the summer break, as well as continued action short of strike. The local dispute is about cuts to teaching time, increases in workload, the ending of fixed term contracts and compulsory redundancies.
Commenting, Charlie Montgomery, EIS-FELA branch convener at City of Glasgow College, said, “We face a significant challenge in attempting to have any meaningful negotiations with senior management at City of Glasgow College. We previously highlighted a culture of bullying, intimidation and authoritarian leadership evidenced by a survey carried out last year amongst members. We know there has been a restriction in national funding for FE but this has also allowed Principals, like ours, to exploit this funding cut to pursue a different agenda. We believe this is one of privatisation.”
Mr Montgomery continued, “We have highlighted to politicians that senior management at City of Glasgow College have chosen spending priorities which include putting international partnerships (and fees) ahead of the needs of vulnerable students from our local communities. City of Glasgow College has a high number of students from areas of multiple deprivation, yet access courses, learning support lecturers and vocational learning around trades are being targeted for cuts. Ultimately, for us, this is a dispute about Fair Work and protecting FE as a public good.”
Mr Montgomery added, “Despite the rhetoric from Scottish Government Ministers of Fair Work being at the heart of the FE sector, at City of Glasgow College it is empty and meaningless. EIS-FELA members have had enough of being derided and dismissed as public sector professionals at the college and our action will continue until there is an agreeable resolution.”
Picket lines will be in operation from 8am-10am at City campus, Cathedral Street and Riverside campus, Thistle Street Tues 5-8th Sept; Mon 11-14th Sept; Tues 19th – 21st Sept; Tues 26-29th Sept.
Photo / interview opportunity: EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley will visit the picket line at City of Glasgow College, City Campus, on Tuesday morning from 0830 – 0930hrs approx.