Union ballots for industrial action over ‘cost-cutting’ loss of lecturer roles

A teaching union is to ballot for industrial action over concerns college lecturers are being replaced by “lower qualified and lower paid instructors”.
Educational Institute of Scotland General Secretary Larry FlanaganEducational Institute of Scotland General Secretary Larry Flanagan
Educational Institute of Scotland General Secretary Larry Flanagan

A teaching union is to ballot for industrial action over concerns college lecturers are being replaced by “lower qualified and lower paid instructors”.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is consulting members over the “emerging practice” of replacing lecturer posts with the role of instructor or assessor.

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Industrial action is already under way at Forth Valley College but the EIS has now sought support for nationwide action.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said:

“The emerging practice of replacing qualified lecturers with lower qualified and lower paid instructors is purely a cost-cutting measure with absolutely no educational merit."

A Colleges Scotland spokeswoman said: “It is disappointing that the EIS-FELA is asking its members to consider industrial action in the midst of a global pandemic that has disrupted education, and severely impacted the economy and employment prospects for many people across Scotland.”