Ayr College students stuck in the middle

May 1 2009 by Stuart Wilson

STUDENTS have begged warring bosses at Ayr College to bury the hatchet.

Chaos has erupted after the wage battle between lecturers and principal Diane Rawlinson descended into farce this week.

Both sides remain deadlocked as the staff enter their fifth week of strike action.

And students say it’s time for common sense – with end of year exams just days away.

Student vice president Jan Johnson admitted: “We’re being treated like children and it’s not good enough.

“All we want is both sides to negotiate and get this settled once and for all.

“We can see both arguments and the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, but none of that is helping us.

“We’re stuck in the middle and not getting the education that we signed up for.

“We do literally fear for our educational future.”

Classrooms are in turmoil as lecturers embark on 35-day industrial action with the crucial exams looming.

Replacement lecturers are trying to plug gaps in timetables, but face claims they’re not properly qualified.

Exams kick off at the crisis-hit college next week with no end in sight to the spiralling dispute.

Now, after months of wrangling, teaching union EIS have agreed to Mrs Rawlinson’s proposal of an independent settlement, known as binding arbitration.

But the principal pulled that offer just before it was finally accepted and has now imposed a pay deal on lecturers.

Alan Scott, EIS area officer, confessed: “This is a unique situation and very strange tactics are being employed.

“The two sides have never been far apart, but Diane Rawlinson has repeatedly refused to negotiate.

“Our branch has made very mature decisions based on what’s coming at them from the other side and the industrial action will continue as planned.”

But college chief Ms Rawlinson, who’s facing mounting criticism from all sides, remains confident in her course of action.

She said: “EIS/FELA have rejected management’s offers of binding arbitration since before Christmas and this offer was refused again last Thursday.

“The vote for binding arbitration comes after the original pay offer of 6.7 per cent over two years, which has already been accepted by 75 per cent of Ayr College staff and negotiated through ACAS, has already been put in place, effective as of Monday.

“To go to binding arbitration now, there is a risk that the pay offer could be less than that which has been put in place.

“The pay offer has been put in place with the students’ best interests at heart as we collectively fulfil our commitment to their futures.

“It is vital that we maintain a financially secure position in order to deliver education and training opportunities, and support individuals and businesses through these difficult economic times.”