MORE strikes could be on the way at West College Scotland in Greenock following a breakdown in talks over a pay and conditions deal.

The EIS-Fela union staged a series of recent stoppages around the country, but called off their action after an apparent agreement was reached.

Now the union and management are at loggerheads again.
Mark Gillan, EIS-FELA depute branch secretary in Greenock, fears strikes could resume in August.

He said: “The strike action was suspended on the back of an agreement by management stating they would immediately implement payments from the deal.

“We remain without the promised payments. 

“So, we are in a position of seeing yet another deal not honoured and deadlines missed.

“Therefore, EIS-FELA national executive have met, and strike action may resume at the start of the next academic year.

“The suspended strike action that had escalated towards three days of action per week might be reinstated in full, with exact dates to be announced.”

Mr Gillan says that college bosses have let down students by not making the payments.

But a spokesperson for the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association says elements of the agreement on pay and conditions have yet to be finalised.

She said: “We made a very reasonable offer, and have not yet had a response from the EIS.

“This offer would have enabled negotiations to conclude and allow for the 25 per cent of the pay element to be implemented.

“We are in discussion with the Scottish Government on the funding of the full agreement.

“The agreement can only be delivered in full once it has been ratified by both sides and an equality impact assessment has been undertaken, as previously agreed with the EIS.”