Scottish college workers vote in favour of strikes amid pay dispute

In a ballot, carried out by Unison Scotland, 96% of members voted for strikes on a 62% turnout.

13th Apr 2023

Learning support staff at Scotland’s colleges have voted for strike action amid a dispute over pay.

In a ballot, carried out by Unison Scotland, 92% of members voted for strikes on a 62% turnout.

The vote rejected a 2% pay offer, and Unison has called for action over the “harmonisation of contracts and pay grades”.

The union’s further education branch is set to announce action soon, which could have an impact on colleges across the country.

Unison says it expects college staff will start strike action before the summer, in an effort to disrupt preparation for the next academic year.

“College staff…are calling on employers to get serious and sit down with Unison to avoid a summer of discontent for the sector,” said Unison Scotland’s further education branch secretary Chris Greenshields.

“The current 2% offer is derisory and does little to protect staff from cost-of-living increases. It’s over seven months since pay rises should have been in staff wage packets and the employers seem clueless about how to avoid yet another crisis in the sector.

“The Scottish government should stop sitting on its hands and sort out this mess. Taking strike action and disrupting plans for the new year is the last thing UNISON members want.

“But they have no choice, they simply cannot afford to go on like this. They will not accept this pay cut, it’s a shameful situation.”