College lecturers have overwhelmingly backed a “hard-won” deal on pay, union leaders said.
The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) announced members in its Further Education Lecturers’ Association (FELA) had voted by 96% to 4% to accept a revised offer.
Staff at colleges across Scotland had gone on strike for one day in March and had planned further action if no deal was reached with bosses on the dispute, which was centred on pay.
The two-year deal that has now been agreed will see staff given either 1% of their salary or £300, whichever is greater, along with a further payment of £100.
In 2016-17 there will be a flat-rate pay rise of £450 and the colleges and the union will work to “jointly develop a roadmap towards a harmonised workforce for the future”.
EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “EIS-FELA members in colleges across Scotland have given their overwhelming approval of the pay offer that was agreed through the national joint negotiating committee (NJNC).
“Our members have now endorsed the draft pay agreement which was delivered through a hard-won victory and brought about by the determination of members and their willingness to take industrial action in their fight for their professional status and fair pay across the sector.
“This pay agreement shows what can be achieved by a group of employees standing together, through their union, to protect their rights.”
Colleges Scotland chief executive Shona Struthers hailed the vote as a “welcome step forward” and said its result “will be a relief to college students across Scotland who are undertaking coursework and studying for exams”.
She added: “We have worked hard with the EIS to reach a settlement and we are pleased that EIS members have accepted the offer.
“This is a significant step forward and we can now work together to develop the roadmap to a harmonised workforce which is an integral part of the offer”.
