EIS NATIONAL BALLOT

West College Scotland is aware of deep concerns among students about the outcome of an EIS national ballot in which lecturers voted to escalate industrial action.

The union will write to the College on Monday, outlining exactly the nature of this industrial action and what it will mean for West College Scotland.  However, action could include lecturers refusing to enter student assessment results into the College system, thereby making it difficult for students to graduate or move on to the next level of study or employment.  

In response to concerns, West College Scotland would like to underline three important points:

• This is a national dispute, involving all colleges in Scotland. Negotiations between employers and the EIS trade union continue at a national level.  The College, therefore, is not able to resolve this dispute.
• Secondly, in the event the EIS does embark on this course of action, we can assure all students and their families that we will make every reasonable effort to ensure that all our students are protected as much as they can be from its possible consequences. We will work to ensure there is no interruption to their progress and that they are able to move on to the next level of study or employment.
• Finally, if lecturers do withhold student results, universities and national exam awarding bodies will be involved in considering the impact in terms of entry requirements for courses across Scotland. The College will also ensure students will be able to progress to a course within the College, should that have been their intention.

The College will provide other updates, as required.

Full background to this national dispute can be found here. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47728440