GMB Scotland: College staff reject unfair pay offer

GMB Scotland members in colleges have rejected a three-year pay offer warning staff are paying for financial crisis across the sector.

GMB Scotland announced the results of a ballot on the offer today with 85 per cent of members voting to reject the offer from College Employers Scotland.

Keir Greenaway, senior organiser in public services, said the proposed deal fails to match the rising cost of living, means the highest-paid college staff will receive the biggest rise, and leaves jobs at risk.

The union had called for a flat-rate increase rather than percentage-based rise to secure the fairest deal for lower-paid staff.

Greenaway said: “Elsewhere in the public sector, workers have secured agreements that safeguard them against the rising cost of living in future years.

“Our members working in Scotland’s colleges deserve the same protection. Instead, this three-year offer is lower than inflation in its first and best year with the gap only likely to widen in later years.

“This is not a pay offer but, in real terms, a pay reduction in disguise and our members in colleges deserve better.”

The union also highlighted increasing concern around the failure to rule out compulsory redundancies as colleges across Scotland warn of looming financial crises because of under-funding.

Greenaway said: “Our young people, particularly those from working class communities, build their futures on the foundation provided by Scotland’s colleges.

“The work of our members could not be more important and it is beyond time for it be properly respected, valued and fairly rewarded.”

GMB Scotland is urging College Employers Scotland and the Scottish Government to review the offer for a 4.25 per rise in the first year, falling to three per cent in the third.

Chris Greenshields, GMB Scotland further education branch secretary added “We will now continue consultation with our reps and members across all colleges about next steps.

“We cannot allow this ‘pay rise’ to erode workers’ pay across the sector over the next three years.”

ENDS