Industrial Relations in the College Sector

That the Parliament is concerned by the record of industrial relations in the college sector over the last decade; understands that nationwide industrial action by lecturers has taken place in six of the last eight years, largely due to the perceived failure to implement previous agreements on pay, conditions and status; further understands that one such example of industrial action was the "fire and rehire" incident at Forth Valley College in 2021, which, it believes, became the catalyst for a national strike and resulted in the affected lecturers being reinstated to their previous positions; notes with regret reports that the nationally agreed disputes resolution process is not yet in place at all colleges; believes that staff feel their extensive efforts to support students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic have not been recognised and that this, in combination with frustration over pay awards to senior management, has left many feeling demotivated; recognises what it sees as the pivotal role played by college teaching and support staff throughout the pandemic, and believes that colleges, including those in the West of Scotland, have a critical role to play in Scotland’s economic recovery from COVID-19, efforts to tackle the climate emergency, and the eradication of child poverty.