Created on: 19 Aug 2024
The EIS has announced that strikes in Scotland’s Further Education colleges, scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week, have been suspended following significant progress after some meetings this morning involving EIS-FELA representatives, College Employers Scotland and the Scottish Government Minister for Further & Higher Education.
Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, "EIS-FELA representatives met with representatives of Scotland’s Colleges after meeting the Minister responsible for Further Education, this morning.
"Significant progress was made at this meeting, with the result that EIS-FELA and the EIS have decided to suspend three days of strike action, scheduled for this week. This is intended as an act of good faith and in the interests of supporting students, and is on the understanding that an improved offer will be made formally by College Employers Scotland in the coming days."
Ms Bradley continued, "While a final settlement has yet to be reached, EIS-FELA negotiators were significantly encouraged by today’s developments and believed it appropriate to suspend this week's strikes.
"Based on discussions this morning, we remain hopeful that a resolution can be struck that will finally see a fair pay settlement that will allow lecturers to return to working as normal, and to do what they do best which is supporting their students in colleges across Scotland to learn and progress."
Ms Bradley added, "Discussions will now continue to iron out final details. Once a revised offer is formally on the table, our intention is to put this to EIS-FELA members in a ballot.
"Today has brought us closer to an end to this long-running dispute, and we hope that discussions will now move quickly and smoothly towards a fair agreement for all parties and a return for students to the uninterrupted, quality learning and teaching that they need and deserve."
Note – While strike action has been suspended for this week, the programme of Action Short of Strike (ASOS) currently remains in place, including the ongoing resulting boycott.
Audio Clip, EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley