UNISON further education members on strike from Stornoway to Stranraer

5th September 2016

UNISON's further education (FE) members across Scotland will go on strike tomorrow for fair pay. As at close of business Monday, September 5, the Scottish further education employers have failed to offer any acceptable way forward in the pay dispute involving some 2,300 UNISON support workers across 20 FE colleges.

As a consequence, courses have ceased; classes cancelled; workplace nurseries closed; school pupils denied vocational training and students with learning needs turned away from colleges.

John Gallacher, Scottish organiser, said:
"It is tragic that the FE employers failed to resolve this dispute before it happened. The difference between what the employers had offered and what would have solved the dispute was a bridgeable gap. Instead of crossing the bridge to settlement talks, the FE employers’ association has chosen conflict with difficult consequences for the sector and its students."

Chris Greenshields, Chair of UNISON Scotland’s further education committee, said:“UNISON members in further education will reluctantly withdraw their labour tomorrow (Tuesday 6 September 2016). The message is loud and clear that UNISON members in the sector are fed up being treated as second class citizens and the value of their contribution t the sector demeaned. We have been offered an annual pay rise which is about half that which the same employers thought fair and reasonable, and affordable, for teaching staff. We are simply asking for fair pay.”