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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Greenock lecturers march over pay | Greenock lecturers march over pay |
| (4 days later) | |
| Staff and students at one of Scotland's largest colleges have marched through Greenock in protest over changes to lecturers' conditions of employment. | Staff and students at one of Scotland's largest colleges have marched through Greenock in protest over changes to lecturers' conditions of employment. |
| Staff also allege mismanagement at James Watt College, which they claim has run up a deficit of £2.4m. | Staff also allege mismanagement at James Watt College, which they claim has run up a deficit of £2.4m. |
| EIS union official Alan Ferguson said the crisis illustrated wider governance issues in the further education sector. | EIS union official Alan Ferguson said the crisis illustrated wider governance issues in the further education sector. |
| However, the college said its recent offer would maintain staffs' position as the highest paid in Scotland. | However, the college said its recent offer would maintain staffs' position as the highest paid in Scotland. |
| Mr Ferguson, who is the EIS branch organiser for the college, said mismanagement and hostility to unions during pay negotiations had galvanised staff and led to five votes of no confidence in the college principal, Bill Wardle, and the board of management. | Mr Ferguson, who is the EIS branch organiser for the college, said mismanagement and hostility to unions during pay negotiations had galvanised staff and led to five votes of no confidence in the college principal, Bill Wardle, and the board of management. |
| It leads to a broader issue of governance and accountability in further education Alan Ferguson EIS | It leads to a broader issue of governance and accountability in further education Alan Ferguson EIS |
| Earlier in the year, staff "had to go to the brink of strike action" to halt college plans to dismiss all 700 staff and offer to re-employ them under new terms, he said. | Earlier in the year, staff "had to go to the brink of strike action" to halt college plans to dismiss all 700 staff and offer to re-employ them under new terms, he said. |
| The college is also looking to shed about 100 teaching posts. | The college is also looking to shed about 100 teaching posts. |
| Mr Ferguson told BBC's Newsweek Scotland programme: "A fundamental reason we called the demonstration and rally was to demonstrate against mismanagement and poor governance and to send out the message that this really has to change. | Mr Ferguson told BBC's Newsweek Scotland programme: "A fundamental reason we called the demonstration and rally was to demonstrate against mismanagement and poor governance and to send out the message that this really has to change. |
| "It leads to a broader issue of governance and accountability in further education and that's why we're getting so much support across the country." | "It leads to a broader issue of governance and accountability in further education and that's why we're getting so much support across the country." |
| Early meeting | Early meeting |
| Principal Bill Wardle is off on extended sick leave and an acting principal, Dr Graham Clark, will assume his duties on 30 October. | Principal Bill Wardle is off on extended sick leave and an acting principal, Dr Graham Clark, will assume his duties on 30 October. |
| A college spokesman said: "The offer made recently by the college to the EIS would maintain their position as the highest paid lecturing staff in Scotland. | A college spokesman said: "The offer made recently by the college to the EIS would maintain their position as the highest paid lecturing staff in Scotland. |
| "On taking up his appointment next week, Dr Graham Clark will be seeking an early meeting with the branch officers of both Unison and the EIS." | "On taking up his appointment next week, Dr Graham Clark will be seeking an early meeting with the branch officers of both Unison and the EIS." |