Consultative ballots by UNISON, UNITE and GMB have seen a major £14 million pay and conditions deal secured for 5,670 full time equivalent support staff who work in Scotland’s 26 colleges.
The deal will see pay rise by a minimum of £1600 over a 29 month period. Since national bargaining was established in 2015, a number of national strikes by UNISON, GMB and EIS have disrupted college courses.
This deal is a major step forward for national bargaining at least for college support staff. The EIS remains in dispute over pay rises for 2017 and 2018 for college lecturers.
UNISON members voted by 96% to 4% (on a 50% return) to accept the deal, after it was recommended by the union. UNITE 95% to 5% on a 53% turnout to accept. GMB voted 100% to accept.
Patricia Murray, Vice Chair of UNISON Scotland Further Education Committee, said:
“This deal will see over 40% of our members get a pay rise in each of two years of between 3 and 4.1%, with gains of up to £170 beyond government pay policy at the lower end of the scales.
“It puts £1600 minimum into pay packets, with pay outs in November 2018, April 2019, and April 2020. There is still a long road ahead in relation to delivering National Pay Grade Harmonisation for support staff in colleges, like their lecturing colleagues. However, this deal will provide them with some much needed relief while we get there.”
Alison MacLean, Regional Officer, Unite, said: “This deal will see a period of long awaited stability for our members who do an excellent job across our Scottish colleges. Thankfully, their contribution to the sector is finally being recognised after years of low pay awards.
“Whilst we have made significant progress, there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve our ultimate goal of national pay and grading harmonisation and improved terms and conditions for college support staff.”
Cal Waterson, GMB Regional Organiser, said: “Given the present austerity programmes, the joint trades unions were happy to recommend this offer to members. I am delighted that GMB members have returned an unprecedented 100% vote to accept.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Support staff include finance and HR staff; ICT; student support; support for learning; librarians; catering; cleaning; janitors and many more.
- Main details of offer are as follows:
a) Pay:
Year one 1 April 2018 – 31 March 2019:
3% increase for staff earning less than £36,500 with a minimum payment of £650 (FTE)
2% increase for staff earning more than £36,500, with a maximum payment of £1,600 (FTE) for those earning more than £80,000.
Year two 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2020:
3% increase for staff earning less than £36,500 with a minimum payment of £650 (FTE)
2% increase for staff earning more than £36,500, with a maximum payment of £1,600 (FTE) for those earning more than £80,000.
Year three 1 April 2020 – 31 August 2020:
£300 (FTE) or 5/12ths Public Sector Pay Policy, whichever is greater.
b) A range of improved national terms and conditions of service, including:
Increase of annual leave from 44 days to 45; Commitment to developing a national programme of support staff training.