Latest news with #GarryRoss
Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
EIS members back strike action over proposed cuts at University of the West of Scotland
Over 94 per cent of members who participated in the ballot supported taking industrial action, signalling their deep-seated opposition to the university's proposals. Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers Association (EIS-ULA) have delivered a strong mandate for strike action at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in response to the university's proposed redundancies. Over 94 per cent of members who participated in the ballot supported taking industrial action, signalling their deep-seated opposition to the university's proposals. UWS is seeking 75 redundancies relating to academic and academic related staff, which the EIS believe will have an adverse impact on the quality of education students would receive. The staff cuts would also place additional burdens on an already stretched workforce at UWS. The EIS lodged a dispute in March in response to the proposed redundancies, but a lack of meaningful consultation discussion resulted in a ballot for strike action being opened last month. The EIS has formally complained to the university that it has not shared sufficient information and that the university identified redundancy pools without the pre-requisite initial consultation on avoiding redundancies. Commenting on the ballot results, the EIS National Officer for Higher Education, Garry Ross said: 'With over 94 per cent of those who voted electing to take strike action, this sends a loud and clear message to management at UWS that staff will fight against these proposed redundancies. 'Our members are hard-working, dedicated professionals who are not only concerned for the job losses that the university are set on making, but the impact the removal of these posts will have on the number of courses being made available at the university and the quality of the learning and teaching that students will receive in future at UWS.' He added: 'Now is the time for management at UWS to hold constructive talks with the EIS and remove their redundancy plans, avoiding the need for their staff to take industrial action to save their jobs.' The EIS urges UWS management to reconsider their redundancy plans and engage in meaningful talks to find an alternative solution that projects jobs and maintains the university's academic capacity. The union remains open to constructive talks and is seeking to avert taking disruptive strike action, but its members are prepared to defend their livelihoods and the quality of education at UWS. The EIS supports the Scottish Government's intervention at the University of Dundee and its call on the university not to make compulsory redundancies. The EIS believes that academics at Robert Gordon University and the University of the West of Scotland also deserve similar government support in avoiding compulsory redundancies. * Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
UWS lecturers set to strike as ballot results revealed
More than 94% of members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS-ULA) who took part in the ballot at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) backed industrial action. This decision comes in response to the university's plans to cut 75.2 full-time equivalent academic and academic-related posts. READ MORE: UWS lecturers hold ballt on strike action over job cuts The EIS has warned that the proposed redundancies would damage educational quality and increase pressure on an already stretched workforce. Commenting on the ballot results, the EIS National Officer for Higher Education, Garry Ross stated: 'With over 94% of those who voted electing to take strike action, this sends a loud and clear message to management at UWS that staff will fight against these proposed redundancies. "Our members are hard-working, dedicated professionals who are not only concerned for the job losses that the university are set on making, but the impact the removal of these posts will have on the number of courses being made available at the university and the quality of the learning and teaching that students will receive in future at UWS. 'Now is the time for management at UWS to hold constructive talks with the EIS and remove their redundancy plans, avoiding the need for their staff to take industrial action to save their jobs." READ MORE: Strike ballot launched at university over proposed job cuts The EIS lodged a formal dispute with the university in March and has raised concerns about a lack of meaningful consultation and insufficient information sharing by UWS management. The union claims the university identified redundancy pools without the necessary discussions on how redundancies might be avoided. The EIS remains open to negotiations and is seeking to avert strike action, but insists members are prepared to act to protect their jobs and the integrity of education at UWS. READ MORE: University of the West of Scotland staff ballot for strikes The union has also backed the Scottish Government's intervention at the University of Dundee, where the government has opposed compulsory redundancies. The EIS argues that staff at UWS and Robert Gordon University deserve the same level of government support to avoid forced job losses. The ballot follows a period of growing tension and calls for greater protection of academic roles and educational standards across Scotland's higher education sector.
North Wales Chronicle
30-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Lecturers to be consulted on industrial action following ‘derisory' pay offer
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS ULA) are taking part in a consultative ballot on whether to accept the proposed offer, and whether they back industrial action. The ballot will be open for six weeks and will close on August 11. The EIS ULA, which is open to all university lecturers in Scotland, has called on its members to reject what it called a 'real-terms pay cut' and back industrial action. It said the offer 'fails to recognise' the contribution made by university lecturers, or make up for years of below-inflation pay rises. It also called on employers to return to the negotiating table with a 'significantly improved' offer, warning of 'widespread disruption' if industrial action were to take place. Garry Ross, EIS ULA national officer, said: 'This 1.4% offer is not just disappointing, it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers and academic-related members. 'Our members are working harder than ever, delivering world-class education and research, yet their financial security continues to be undermined by employers who appear unwilling to offer a fair deal. 'This offer fails to recognise the essential contributions of our members and does nothing to address the severe impact of rising living costs or the sub-inflationary rises they have experienced over a number of years.' The union said the offer stood in 'stark contrast' to the 4.14% increase given to further education lecturers, and to pay awards made to NHS workers and other public sector employees across Scotland. It said this disparity highlighted a 'clear injustice' within higher education, and demonstrated the need for a more equitable approach to staff pay, A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Staffing and operational matters are the responsibility of individual universities. 'The Scottish Government is not directly involved in higher education pay negotiations, but we are absolutely clear that Fair Work must be the guiding principle for all employment-related decisions, and we continue to urge university management and the respective trade unions to reach decisions that ensure employees are treated fairly.'
South Wales Guardian
30-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Lecturers to be consulted on industrial action following ‘derisory' pay offer
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS ULA) are taking part in a consultative ballot on whether to accept the proposed offer, and whether they back industrial action. The ballot will be open for six weeks and will close on August 11. The EIS ULA, which is open to all university lecturers in Scotland, has called on its members to reject what it called a 'real-terms pay cut' and back industrial action. It said the offer 'fails to recognise' the contribution made by university lecturers, or make up for years of below-inflation pay rises. It also called on employers to return to the negotiating table with a 'significantly improved' offer, warning of 'widespread disruption' if industrial action were to take place. Garry Ross, EIS ULA national officer, said: 'This 1.4% offer is not just disappointing, it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers and academic-related members. 'Our members are working harder than ever, delivering world-class education and research, yet their financial security continues to be undermined by employers who appear unwilling to offer a fair deal. 'This offer fails to recognise the essential contributions of our members and does nothing to address the severe impact of rising living costs or the sub-inflationary rises they have experienced over a number of years.' The union said the offer stood in 'stark contrast' to the 4.14% increase given to further education lecturers, and to pay awards made to NHS workers and other public sector employees across Scotland. It said this disparity highlighted a 'clear injustice' within higher education, and demonstrated the need for a more equitable approach to staff pay, A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Staffing and operational matters are the responsibility of individual universities. 'The Scottish Government is not directly involved in higher education pay negotiations, but we are absolutely clear that Fair Work must be the guiding principle for all employment-related decisions, and we continue to urge university management and the respective trade unions to reach decisions that ensure employees are treated fairly.'
Leader Live
30-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Lecturers to be consulted on industrial action following ‘derisory' pay offer
Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS ULA) are taking part in a consultative ballot on whether to accept the proposed offer, and whether they back industrial action. The ballot will be open for six weeks and will close on August 11. The EIS ULA, which is open to all university lecturers in Scotland, has called on its members to reject what it called a 'real-terms pay cut' and back industrial action. It said the offer 'fails to recognise' the contribution made by university lecturers, or make up for years of below-inflation pay rises. It also called on employers to return to the negotiating table with a 'significantly improved' offer, warning of 'widespread disruption' if industrial action were to take place. Garry Ross, EIS ULA national officer, said: 'This 1.4% offer is not just disappointing, it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers and academic-related members. 'Our members are working harder than ever, delivering world-class education and research, yet their financial security continues to be undermined by employers who appear unwilling to offer a fair deal. 'This offer fails to recognise the essential contributions of our members and does nothing to address the severe impact of rising living costs or the sub-inflationary rises they have experienced over a number of years.' The union said the offer stood in 'stark contrast' to the 4.14% increase given to further education lecturers, and to pay awards made to NHS workers and other public sector employees across Scotland. It said this disparity highlighted a 'clear injustice' within higher education, and demonstrated the need for a more equitable approach to staff pay, A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'Staffing and operational matters are the responsibility of individual universities. 'The Scottish Government is not directly involved in higher education pay negotiations, but we are absolutely clear that Fair Work must be the guiding principle for all employment-related decisions, and we continue to urge university management and the respective trade unions to reach decisions that ensure employees are treated fairly.'
