Teaching union stages online protest over Forth Valley College job consultation

However, the FVC management team has stated there will be no redundancies as a result of proposals in the consultation and all those at risk – 67 members of staff – will have an offer of employment with salary conservation for four years.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country’s largest union for teachers and lecturers, had been actively fighting plans in the consultation, which they claimed would mean potential removal of college lecturers from the delivery of vocational education.

As far as FVC was concerned, the EIS stated this would result in the redundancy of over 30 lecturing jobs, with the college set to introduce new “instructor-assessor” roles.

However, it was stated due to the uptake of the voluntary severance scheme, there will be no redundancies.

According to FVC the new instructor assessor role will enable the college to provide a more effective learning and teaching delivery model.

The EIS plan to hold a a mass demonstration at 1pm on Wednesday April 1 in protest at Forth Valley College’s actions – the event will take place online, to comply with current COVID-19 guidance on social distancing.

Larry Flanagan, EIS general secretary said: “It is shocking management at Forth Valley College is seeking to make lecturing staff redundant during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In recent weeks, we have seen organisations such as Britannia Hotels, Sports Direct and JD Wetherspoon publicly condemned for their treatment of staff during this crisis – so the actions of Forth Valley College, a publicly funded institution – are absolutely deserving of condemnation.

“It is completely indefensible the college is seeking to make hard-working lecturing staff redundant during this crisis. I would urge EIS members to join the online demo in support of these lecturers, to force Forth Valley College to rethink its actions.”

People are asked to log onto the demonstration at 12.45pm today and speakers, including EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan, EIS FVC branch president Anne-Marie Harley and Dave Moxham of the STUC, will be talking from 1 pm to 2pm.Visit www.eis.org.uk/FELA/ForthValley for more information on how to log onto the protest.