Forth Valley College staff take action short of strike

Workers at Forth Valley College are taking action short of strike from today.

It means they'll be working to contract, with no overtime.

It follows a pay dispute between employers and the EIS trade union.

The union's rejected a 2% offer.

EIS General Secretary, Andrea Bradley, said: “The Scottish Government and college leaders must heed the warning of this statutory ballot and commit to meaningful negotiations to settle this pay dispute.

"The current pay offer is 10% less than the current rate of inflation and is thus a huge real terms pay cut. This group of public sector workers deserve better and need to be treated fairly and equitably by College Employers Scotland, with Scottish Government support if necessary."

Commenting, EIS-FELA President, Anne-Marie Harley said: "It is bitterly disappointing that college lecturers are set to take industrial action for the eighth time in nine years. For too long, the intransigence of college employers has plunged the Further Education sector into the disruption caused by industrial action.

"The Scottish Government too cannot wash its hands of this situation when it has intervened across other parts of the public sector to settle pay disputes. Whilst we have this industrial action mandate, we would prefer to negotiate a fair pay deal for college lecturers without the need for sustained industrial action."