This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7022640.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| College staff strike over agency | College staff strike over agency |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Lecturing staff at Telford College in Edinburgh are to take part in a series of two-day strikes. | Lecturing staff at Telford College in Edinburgh are to take part in a series of two-day strikes. |
| The action is over plans to use a private agency to employ temporary lecturers and support workers. | The action is over plans to use a private agency to employ temporary lecturers and support workers. |
| The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland's largest teaching union, said it expected most of the college's 328 lecturers to take part. | The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), Scotland's largest teaching union, said it expected most of the college's 328 lecturers to take part. |
| However, the college said unions were refusing to enter talks and had made "no concessions". | However, the college said unions were refusing to enter talks and had made "no concessions". |
| The lecturers have voted to strike for two days every week until the situation is resolved. | The lecturers have voted to strike for two days every week until the situation is resolved. |
| Lecturers will lose a whole host of employment rights Kirsty DevaneyEIS president | Lecturers will lose a whole host of employment rights Kirsty DevaneyEIS president |
| Staff staged an initial one-day walkout on Thursday. | Staff staged an initial one-day walkout on Thursday. |
| The EIS said it was "furious" that the college had agreed that Protocol National should provide temporary lecturing staff. | The EIS said it was "furious" that the college had agreed that Protocol National should provide temporary lecturing staff. |
| The union claimed there had been no meaningful consultation on a change which would have major implications for the employment terms, conditions and pay of those affected. | The union claimed there had been no meaningful consultation on a change which would have major implications for the employment terms, conditions and pay of those affected. |
| EIS president Kirsty Devaney said the move would create a two-tier workforce among the lecturing staff. | EIS president Kirsty Devaney said the move would create a two-tier workforce among the lecturing staff. |
| "This change, which was introduced without proper consultation with staff or their union, will force temporary lecturers to become self-employed contractors working through an English-based recruitment agency," she said. | "This change, which was introduced without proper consultation with staff or their union, will force temporary lecturers to become self-employed contractors working through an English-based recruitment agency," she said. |
| "As a result, those lecturers will lose a whole host of employment rights." | "As a result, those lecturers will lose a whole host of employment rights." |
| Permanent staff | |
| The union's claims were rejected by depute principal Greg Irving, who said temporary staff were a necessary part of running a large education institution. | The union's claims were rejected by depute principal Greg Irving, who said temporary staff were a necessary part of running a large education institution. |
| "To refer to 'two tiers of staff' is therefore entirely misleading - Protocol National is simply an alternative way to manage the existing situation," he said. | "To refer to 'two tiers of staff' is therefore entirely misleading - Protocol National is simply an alternative way to manage the existing situation," he said. |
| "They are a reputable organisation that already works with over 200 colleges in England, as well as Scotland's second largest college - Aberdeen College." | |
| Mr Irving said most of the temporary workers would be new to the college - and all would be on the same rates of pay as permanent staff. | |
| He also accused the union of refusing to enter into discussions with senior college staff. | He also accused the union of refusing to enter into discussions with senior college staff. |
| "We have made substantial adjustments to the original model to make it acceptable to the EIS, but they have made no attempt to make this work and absolutely no concession to trying to find a mutually agreeable solution," he added. | "We have made substantial adjustments to the original model to make it acceptable to the EIS, but they have made no attempt to make this work and absolutely no concession to trying to find a mutually agreeable solution," he added. |