Industrial action had ‘minimal impact’ on college operations, UHI Inverness say
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
UHI Inverness say strike action taken by staff yesterday had “minimal impact” on operations and classes at the college.
Members of lecturer’s trade union EIS-FELA took to the picket line outside the UHI Inverness campus on Monday, joining others in similar locations across Scotland campaigning for fairer pay.
READ ALSO: Highland MSP joins UHI Inverness staff on picket line over fair pay for lecturers
A spokesperson from UHI Inverness said: “The industrial action by the trade union EIS-FELA on Monday, April 22 had very minimal impact on the operations of the college and the vast majority of classes continued as scheduled.
“We continue to support the talks between the trade unions and College Employers Scotland, and we hope this national dispute can be resolved as quickly as possible.
“Colleges across Scotland, including UHI Inverness, are eager to apply the full and final pay offer from the employers in the earliest possible pay period.”
College Employers Scotland (CES), the national body for colleges as employers, has offered the EIS-FELA and support staff unions (UNISON, Unite and GMB) a £5000 consolidated pay rise over three academic years.
However, the proposal has been rejected by the EIS-FELA.
Gavin Donoghue, CES Director, issued a message to lecturers who are members of the EIS-FELA prior to this week’s strike action, stating that “further strikes by the EIS-FELA will not, and cannot, lead to an improved pay offer” and that action will only cause disruption to students.
He added: “Colleges simply cannot offer to give what they do not have, especially when government funding is set to fall by nearly 5 per cent in 2024/25. The Scottish Government has confirmed on a number of occasions that it will not fund a pay award in the college sector.
“We urge the EIS-FELA to cancel its industrial action and put the employers’ full and final pay offer to its members in a formal ballot.”
A statement from UHI Inverness on Facebook advised that campuses may be affected by further strike action on Wednesday May 1.
