Lecturers strike for 5th day

Members of the Edinburgh's Telford College branch of the EIS-FELA continued their strike action today amidst calls for the Principal to return from his holiday to the college in order to resolve the dispute.

The members were joined on the picket line today by Ken Wimbor Assistant Secretary of the EIS.

Strike enters 3rd Week

Members of the Edinburgh’s Telford College branch of the EIS continued their picket
today despite the adverse weather conditions. Support for the strike remains solid and messages of support continue to pour in from other branches, the local community,
politicians and most significantly students.

Members of the EIS are pleased to acknowledge that after 3 days of negotiations initiated
by the EIS, the Principalship has moved some way on this dispute.

However the basis of this dispute was to ensure EQUALITY of employment for ALL.

The EIS reject INEQUALITY in all its forms.

We are unable to settle this dispute while even a MINORITY are still discriminated against.

The EIS members will happily settle this dispute and return to their classrooms immediately, when the Principalship fulfils its duty to provide a solution that does not involve DISCRIMINATION.

MSP visits Telford College Picket Line

Malcolm Chisholm MSP visited the picket at Edinburgh's Telford College today to show his solidarity with members of the college branch of the EIS. Mr Chisholm who is a former english teacher and current member of the EIS and Unison was warmly greeted by both teaching staff and students as he discussed the various issues surrounding the dispute with the college Principalship.

The member for Edinburgh North and Leith is the former Scottish Labour Minister for Communites and member of the Equal Opportunities Committee. Mr Chisholm has been innundated with letters and emails concerning the dispute is is very concerned by the Principalshops stand on this issue.

If you have not already contacted Mr Chisholm you can do so via the following methods:

Mail:
Malcolm Chisholm MSP
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

e-mail:
Malcolm.Chisholm.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

Open Surgeries every saturday:
9am: Leith Library
10.30am: Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre
12pm: Stockbridge Library

Lecturers continue action against inequality

The Branch committee were delighted with yet another fantastic turnout of members demonstrating their support for the EIS action against Edinburgh's Telford College Principalships introduction of a 2 tier employment system through their engagement of Nottingham based 3rd Party Employment agency Protocol National.

The members of the Telford Branch remain committed to this action as they are resolute in their conviction that the introduction of a 3rd Party Employment agency who's chief concern is profit cannot and will not provide the high quality education our learners deserve and expect.

The Principalship must explain how demoralising teaching staff and diminishing their terms and conditions will lead to an "improved student experience".

The principalship has embarked on a course of action designed to destroy the employment relationship with their temporary staff and to take their temporary employees outwith the scope of existing employment rights and pension provision.

Lecturers take action

Day one of the EIS-FELA strike action at Edinburgh's Telford College got off to a great start as members gathered on the picket line from 7am onwards.

Undeterred by the bitter weather the official pickets, including EIS President Kirsty Devaney, took their positions at the 3 main entrances to the college in a visible protest against the college Principalships decision to create a 2-tier employment structure through the enforced use of the profit making Nottingham based, 3rd party employment agency Protocol National.

It soon became very clear that there is substantial support for the members of the Branch Committee and the EIS members engaged in the dispute as several non EIS colleagues, unable to join their colleagues due to the threat of disciplinary action, demonstrated their support through words of encouragement and the constant sounding of car of horns.

It was also notable that only a fraction of the EIS membership within the college crossed the picket line.

Most encouraging however was the support shown directly by the students themselves many of who have signed student generated petitions, are writing letters and have even started leaving comments (see below) on this blog supporting the removal of Protocol National.

“The tutors at Telford are absolutely fantastic. Anyone who wants to mess up a system that already works should open their eyes. To introduce a company only interested in profit rather than education of its students is insane. Morale will fall and with it, the college reputation. This should not be allowed to happen, get Protocol out.”

The Branch Committee would like to thank all those who demonstrated solidarity with our members over the course of the day particularly those who provided much needed hot drinks and local businesses like Sandy’s who kept us going with complimentary hot rolls.