Universities again appeal to lecturers to end their wage strike

Scottish universities are making a renewed appeal to lecturers to end a long-standing pay strike.

The dispute revolves around the salary increase for lecturers in 2022.

Members of the EIS FELA union went on strike for four days each week last month.

Universities claim that support for the strike is waning as the number of lecturers participating in the action is also declining.

The union is now asking its members to vote again on a mandate to continue with the measures after the summer holidays.

But the universities claim that the dispute is now actually about the salary increase that lecturers will receive in 2025, and not about what they would be entitled to now if the dispute were settled.

EIS FELA also expresses concern that universities may have to cut jobs or reduce their services in order to finance current offerings.

Gavin Donoghue, director of College Employers Scotland, said people were “rightly confused and frustrated that EIS-FELA is choosing to jeopardise students’ futures through industrial action in June 2024”.

He added: “Employers want to get pay rises into lecturers’ pockets as soon as possible, especially now that the summer holidays are approaching.

“The quickest way to achieve this is for EIS-FELA to have its members vote on the fair and substantial salary offer that is on the table.

“It is clear that the vast majority of Scottish university lecturers have little enthusiasm for strike action. Therefore, employers are calling on the union to suspend all industrial action, including the resulting boycott, pending a vote by their members.”

Four-year wage claim

The salary offer provides a total salary increase of £5,000 for lecturers – this covers the salary offers for 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Lecturers are now also being offered a 3% salary increase in the 2025-26 academic year.

The EIS FELA union recently submitted a wage demand for the next four years, which includes a three-year amount of £5,000.

The universities emphasize that the number of striking lecturers has decreased. Last September, 47 percent took part in a nationwide strike, but last Friday only 25 percent went on strike.

EIS FELA was asked for comment.

In accordance with the law, the union is conducting a new vote among its members to seek their support for continuing strikes or other industrial action in the autumn.