Created on: 18 Dec 2023
A resolution has been reached in the long-running industrial dispute at City of Glasgow College.
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland - Further Education Lecturers Association (EIS-FELA) have overwhelmingly backed the resolution in a ballot, bringing to an end the dispute and the programme of industrial action at the college. 86% of members voting in the ballot backed the agreement reached between the EIS and the college.
Commenting on the ballot result, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, "This very clear ballot result brings the programme of industrial action at City of Glasgow College to an end. EIS-FELA members at the college are to be commended for the strong stance they have taken in defence of lecturing jobs and quality education provision at the college.
"It has been a long and difficult struggle which has taken its toll on lecturers and students alike, but it was a price worth paying to fight job and course cuts and to protect education for today’s and tomorrow’s students at the college."
Charlie Montgomery, EIS-FELA Branch Convener at City of Glasgow College, said, "We are obviously delighted that this dispute has been brought to an end without the unnecessary compulsory redundancies originally demanded by the college.
"We hope, going forward, the college will recognise the need to abide by the principles of 'Fair Work' and no longer try to enforce upon staff, changes in their employment status, or terms and conditions without proper negotiations with recognised trade unions. It is to be hoped, with proper governance put in place and the adoption of a collegiate attitude, City of Glasgow College can look forward to a more stable period of industrial relations that should benefit staff and students alike."
As a result of the resolution reached today, there will now be no compulsory redundancies amongst lecturing staff at City of Glasgow college. There is also a longer-term commitment to no compulsory redundancies at the college – in line with the Scottish Government commitment to avoiding compulsory redundancies in the public sector.
Lecturers who had been dismissed under compulsory redundancy will now be offered the opportunity to return to work at the college or, alternatively, to agree voluntary severance. Further, a Fair Work Review process will be undertaken with the STUC and this can be viewed as a test case for the wider Further Education Sector in the future.