Forth Valley College EIS members will take industrial action over plan to scrap lecturer jobs

EIS members will take action short of striking in protest against a move regarded as a cost-cutting exercise that lecturers say will impact the quality of education on offer to students.

This will include ‘working to rule’ – where members will do no more than the minimum required by their contract – escalating to a refusal to take an accurate student register, a marking boycott and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

Union members across FVC’s Falkirk, Alloa and Stirling campuses will take action from November 10 until January 29, 2021, unless a resolution is found.

The EIS believes the proposed changes are a retrograde step for the profession and the students as the new roles are lower paid and involve more class contact hours, less time for preparation and reduced annual leave.

The positions also do not require a teaching qualification or General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) recognition.

The 12 areas of Falkirk with the highest numbers of positive Covid-19 tests in the last week

In a ballot which closed last week, 80 per cent of participating members voted for action short of strike, following a 53 per cent turnout.

Anne-Marie Harley, FVC branch convenor, said: “We are furious that the college is trying to attack our contracts and profession during a global pandemic.

“We hope that management will reconsider their position and we will continue to seek a resolution, but this result shows that staff are more than prepared to take action to defend our livelihoods and our students’ right to quality education.”

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