College staff vote to reject deal branded a ‘pay reduction in disguise’

College staff have voted against a pay deal that union bosses have claimed represents a “pay reduction in disguise”.

Members of the GMB union working in colleges voted by 85% to reject the offer made by College Employers Scotland – a committee of College Scotland’s board which has responsibility for matters such as pay.

While trade unions Unison and Unite had both recommended their members accept the deal, GMB senior organiser Keir Greenaway said the three-year offer was below the rate of inflation.

Colleges also proposed a 3% pay rise for staff in 2027-28 under the terms of the deal.

But Mr Greenaway said: “Elsewhere in the public sector, workers have secured agreements that safeguard them against the rising cost of living in future years.

“Our members working in Scotland’s colleges deserve the same protection. Instead, this three-year offer is lower than inflation in its first and best year with the gap only likely to widen in later years.”

He insisted: “This is not a pay offer but, in real terms, a pay reduction in disguise and our members in colleges deserve better.”

The GMB is also concerned that financial pressure on the colleges sector could lead to redundancies, with Mr Greenaway saying: “The work of our members could not be more important and it is beyond time for it be properly respected, valued and fairly rewarded.”

Meanwhile, GMB Scotland further education branch secretary Chris Greenshields called on both College Employers Scotland and the Scottish Government to review the offer as the union considers its next steps.

Mr Greenshields said: “We will now continue consultation with our reps and members across all colleges about next steps.

“We cannot allow this pay rise to erode workers’ pay across the sector over the next three years.”

A College Employers Scotland spokesperson said: “The new, multi-year pay deal for college support staff has been overwhelmingly backed by Unison and Unite members in ballots.

“The deal delivers significant pay rises: 4.25% for 2025/26 – well above CPI inflation at 3.8% (Oct 2025) – followed by 3.4% in 2026/27 and 3% in 2027/28.

“Staff earning £27,000 (FTE) or less will also receive a minimum payment of £1,150 in 2025/26, equating to an increase of more than 5% for the lowest paid, alongside improvements to overtime thresholds and standby allowances.

“Although GMB members rejected the offer in a ballot, there was overwhelming support from Unison and Unite members (Unison: 93%; Unite: 97%).

“This means a pay agreement can now proceed under the terms of national collective bargaining for Scotland’s colleges, as Unison and Unite represent a substantial majority of support staff trade union members.

“This is a fair, sustainable deal that supports staff through cost-of-living pressures while remaining affordable for colleges in a very challenging financial climate.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government deeply values the contribution of colleges to local communities and the wider Scottish economy.

“While operational matters around staffing and pay are the responsibility of colleges, we are providing support for the pay deal that was reached between trade unions and the sector.

“For this, we are providing an extra £1.69 million this financial year, followed by an additional £3.3 million next year.”