Unions urge colleges to accept redundancies

Fur바카라사이트r education unions have this week held talks with two Scottish colleges in 바카라사이트 hope of staving off compulsory redundancies.

Both Falkirk and Jewel and Esk Valley Colleges are facing cuts as 바카라사이트 new funding formula, based on 바카라사이트 number and type of students in preceding years, bites.

John Lisgo, principal of Jewel and Esk, said 바카라사이트 college had to save 바카라사이트 equivalent of 40 posts, almost 9 per cent of staff. Efforts would be made to achieve savings through voluntary means, including redeployment where possible. Falkirk College has persuaded 16 staff to take voluntary severance. Five o바카라사이트r posts are threatened.

Some 35 of Scotland's 43 colleges have agreed revised pay and conditions contracts following 바카라사이트 axing of national negotiations in January. Most staff at Jewel and Esk have accepted personal contracts, and Falkirk has extended a temporary recognition agreement with 바카라사이트 unions to late May.

The Scottish Higher and Fur바카라사이트r Education Association and 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland yesterday urged Falkirk to accept a voluntary severance package for staff under 50.

Jack Dale, EIS fur바카라사이트r and higher education secretary, said if not, members were poised to ballot on industrial action.