College support staff get first ever national pay settlement

Support staff in Scotland’s 25 colleges are to be guaranteed the Living Wage plus £300 following talks between trade unions and college bosses.

It is the first time such negotiations have been held since further education colleges were merged into public bodies in 2011.

The new agreement will form the basis for a new single pay structure and working conditions by the end of the year.

All staff will receive a one per cent rise or £300, whichever is greater, and there has been an agreement all colleges will pay the Living Wage, currently £7.85 per hour.

The deal was agreed at the new National Joint Negotiating Committee (NJNC) in Edinburgh.

Chris Greenshields, chair of UNISON Scotland’s further education sector said: “We will continue the work hard for more gains in the 2016, in particular an equal flat rate settlement for all workers in the sector which is much fairer than a percentage increase.”

Support staff include administrators, student welfare officers, IT and other services, many of which were cut back during the merger process.