Ayr College staff have no confidence in their principal

May 8 2009 by Stuart Wilson

STAFF at Ayr College have turned up the heat on their under-pressure boss.

Lecturers passed a vote of no confidence in principal Diane Rawlinson as their bitter pay dispute took another twist.

The pay war is threatening to tear the heart from the college with staff entering their sixth week of strike action.

Lecturers say they can no longer work for Ms Rawlinson, who they accuse of being “negative, hostile and inflexible”.

And the vote of no confidence was passed unanimously by members of the union EIS.

Branch secretary Dave Robertson revealed: “There is great concern among our membership that Diane Rawlinson hasn’t acted in good faith throughout this process.

“The question we need answering now is where are her board of management in all of this?

“They have a responsibility to the wider community of Ayrshire to provide an educational facility.

“The time has surely come for them to make their position clear.”

Ironically, management have chosen this week to break their silence in the row.

And they’ve thrown their full backing behind the college princpal.

Ian Valentine, board of management chairman, said: “Neither I nor the board place any importance whatsoever on a union statement of this kind.”

But lecturers believe the situation has gone well beyond the point of return.

And they’re warning of bleak times ahead – even if the pay dispute is finally sorted.

One lecturer said: “People will not want to work for Diane Rawlinson – she won’t have a willing staff on board.

“She’s spun out untruths all along and that’s why we’re in this position now.

“We’re not fighting for 0.5 per cent more pay – it’s the principle of what she’s done and what we’re owed.”