EIS college lecturers vote to accept terms and conditions deal

Terms and conditions for college lecturers will be standardised across all colleges in Scotland, after members of the EIS trade union overwhelmingly accepted a deal from Colleges Scotland.

The agreement follows strikes last year as part of a long-running dispute since a move to national bargaining was agreed by the sector.

The EIS Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) accused employers of reneging on promises to make pay and conditions equal across all colleges. 

The union refused a direction to return to work from Education Secretary John Swinney in May, who then appointed QC John Sturrock to mediate further discussions.

An agreement was finally reached in November.

The executive of EIS-FELA recommended members vote to ratify the new deal, which they have done by 96 per cent.

EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan said it was the first national agreement on lecturers’ core terms and conditions since the early 1990s.

“These NJNC Agreements reflect the positive outcomes which can be achieved for the sector through meaningful negotiation,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said lecturers were receiving an “excellent deal”.

“As a sector, we can now progress with the professional registration of all lecturing staff by April 2019 and continue negotiations over the additional cost of living pay demands.  Critically, we must recognise that any further pay awards have to be affordable for the sector,” she said.