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Siu Index
March 2009 No 77

Further Education - return to national bargaining?

Welcoming the Scottish Government intention to consult on a possible return to national bargaining in further education, UNISON is re-organising its structure to involve members in the campaign.

The union has set up a team to work at organising members in the FE sector, and also created three local networks for people to come together and discuss common issues. The networks have elected a Scottish FE Sector Committee which stands separate in its own right and is no longer a part of the Local Government Service Group.

Nancy Kelly - leader of the Organising Team - says, “The rot first set in in the 1990s when national bargaining was abolished and each individual college started to negotiate their own pay and conditions.

“Now we have 42 different colleges with different pay scales, grading structures, and terms and conditions. But hopefully that’s changing.

“The Scottish Government have indicated an intention to consult the Further Education sector on a return to national bargaining, and we want to ensure that our members are organised to pursue this and take advantage. We are also working closely with the STUC and the other FE unions to campaign on this.”

For some years UNISON members working in FE colleges have felt like the poor relations. Assigned to the local government Branches who have their own problems as a priority, part of the LG service group where issues get lost and worst of all isolated from each other with no structure to feed into.

As well as Nancy, the Organising Team consists of Kevin O’Neil (Area Organiser) and Jane Fielding (Local Organiser). They have also been joined by Kay Sillars from the Policy and Information team who will work with us on the national bargaining campaign.

The FE Sector Committee has developed a workplan for the year - including a job evaluation briefing for all reps and a development weekend for the Committee.

If you’d like further information please contact Nancy Kelly (n.kelly@unison.co.uk) or click onto www.unison-scotland.org.uk/fe/news.html#network

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