UPDATE: EIS college strikes suspended after 'progress' made in pay dispute

THE Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire has slammed the Scottish Government for their handling of the ongoing pay dispute involving lecturers at West College Scotland.

Striking staff at the Clydebank campus have had their wages withheld from Monday, August 19.

Bosses at the college say they will withhold the pay of the EIS-FELA members who have failed to enter students' results into the recording system.

The Educational Institute of Scotland [EIS] previously announced the results of the boycott as part of the nationwide dispute about pay.

Lecturers will strike for six days over the next two weeks and Douglas McAllister has confirmed he fully supports the industrial action.

"I offer my solidarity to those who are taking strike action at West College Scotland," he said.

"This is a result of the Scottish government not being prepared to step forward and resolve the dispute.

"They must sit down with the employer and the trade union to get things sorted.  

"The EIS regard this as a de-facto workers lockout which is extremely concerning and takes this strike action to a different level.

"I am very concerned about the hardship this is going to place on the college lecturers and their families."

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McAllister acknowledged the effect the strike was having on students but insists those in Holyrood must step in to combat the industrial action.

"This is having a detrimental impact on the student's education and well-being," he continued.

"The deeming of wages in response to legitimate strike action is an example of worker's rights being completely undermined.

"This bully-boy tactic must be challenged and I am putting the blame squarely at the feet of the Scottish government. 

"I have written to the Scottish government minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey, to point out the urgency of matters and insist he intervenes directly to stop the employer from doing this.

"We have reached a crisis point and it must be resolved."

Marie McNair, Clydebank MSP, also expressed her support for the striking staff.

She added: "I send my solidarity and support to the workers involved in this dispute with the employers.

"I want the Scottish government to do everything it can to encourage the National Joint Negotiating Committee to reach a settlement that gives the staff affected the respect and recognition they are due.

"The employers locally and nationally should resist behaviour that so far is only escalating the dispute.

"We need to see a better approach to secure an end to this disruption and get colleges fully functioning again in the interests of students and the economy."

Graeme Dey, minister for Higher and Further Education, responded after the news that the current strike action has been suspended.

"We welcome the move from the EIS-FELA to suspend the current strike action and create space for further progress to be made between the Union and College Employers Scotland (CES)," he said.

“It is also heartening to see that students returning to college for the start of the academic year won’t now be met with immediate disruption.”