Colleges

THE NATIONAL president of the Scottish lecturers’ union, the EIS-CLA, is the latest union activist to be targeted by management at further education colleges in Scotland. Jim O’Donovan has been suspended from his lecturing post at the Glasgow Central College of Commerce.

A disciplinary hearing recommended his dismissal. The college management has confirmed this recommendation and Jim now faces the sack. ‘I believe that the disciplinary charges against Jim O’Donovan stem from a desire to attack a trade union rather than being based on any issue of substance,’ said Jim Higney, the EIS-CLA vice-president. The recent spate of victimisations against union members at seven other colleges across Scotland shows this is part of a concerted campaign by college managers against union activists.’

Union members are furious at the attack. His fellow workers voted to demand his immediate reinstatement and a ballot for industrial action at a union meeting last month. Union members are planning to keep the campaign networks going, ready to take on the bullying management next term.
Send messages of protest to: Chair of the Board of Management, Central College of Commerce, 300 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 2TA.

THE MANAGEMENT at Wigan and Leigh College want to increase teaching hours and cut lecturers’ holidays. The new college principal wants to make it easier to sack staff by cutting the notice time given for compulsory redundancies.

A Natfhe union meeting recently voted unanimously to ballot for industrial action. They also rejected a 2.3 percent pay offer.