Over the past decade, national bargaining has secured significant improvements to pay, terms and conditions for college lecturers across Scotland.

Through sustained negotiation and collective action, EIS-FELA Reps, supported by various National Officers and other EIS staff, have negotiated pay settlements and delivered national terms and conditions of employment.

In 2025/26 work was done to refresh and strengthen national bargaining arrangements. A new National Recognitions Procedure Agreement (NRPA) means separate bargaining arrangements for Lecturing and Professional Services staff. The new National Negotiating Committee (Lecturers) is more than just a rebrand, it represents a significant step towards ensuring the continued strength of national bargaining.

The most significant output for lecturers from this new structure is a 3 year Pay Deal (subject to final ratification).

Pay

The pay deal for 2026-29 was voted on by members after a recommendation to accept was made by the FELA Executive. On a turnout of 66%, EIS-FELA members voted 98% in favour of the deal. The pay deal is built on FELA’s original claim which was structured in an attempt to protect members from rising costs.

Headline Percentages in the Deal-
Year 1- 3.75%
Year 2- 3.25%
Year 3- 3.2%

At the time of agreement, it is difficult to know if Year 1 will be an above inflation pay award or not. The Inflation Reopener clause in years 2 and 3 builds in protection from rising inflation and means that if inflation remains higher than agreed pay then there is the commitment for negotiations to reopen.

This deal takes the first steps in addressing the cost-of-living issue for our colleagues living and working on the Islands.

The commitment to Job Security remains as per the agreed wording from the last pay deal. Any College that moves to compulsory redundancies will be put under particular scrutiny to ensure that all practicable options have been exhausted and if not, they will be in breach of the national agreement.

This deal takes the first steps in addressing the cost-of-living issue for our colleagues living and working on the Islands. The Distant Islands Allowance is paid to counter the expense of living in remote island communities.

Most affected Colleges pay this, but receive no dedicated ring-fenced funds. With the wording agreed in the pay deal, there will now be a commitment to jointly approach the Scottish Government to lobby for Distant Islands Allowance.

The pay deal also includes a re-commitment for colleges to fully apply all National Circulars which should not be necessary, but we know that in practice this does not always happen. All previous nationally agreed circulars remain relevant and in force, and where there is any contention or failure to adhere to circulars the National Joint Secretaries are the authority for resolution.

Building Strength over the last 10 years

There have been significant wins for College Lecturers through FELA Industrial Action in the last decade but far more has been gained than just improvements in Pay, Terms and Conditions. Local reps have gained valuable experience in mobilising and organising branches, and members and activists have been empowered by collective action.

Local FELA reps have organised more days on the picket in the last 10 years than most other Reps in any union will do in a lifetime!

The gains made by FELA have been delivered through well organised reps and officials, committed and engaged members and FELA draws strength from having the full backing of the EIS main body union – and this has been particularly evident in the support for the recent health and safety dispute and welding lecturers’ strike at City of Glasgow College.

Looking to the Future

National Bargaining has delivered national policies and model procedures for menopause, disciplinary and grievance.

The NNC (Lecturing Side) can now focus on key issues raised by members and Branches: Joint working on Hybrid Learning and Teaching, Promoted Posts, Referral process for 02/21, Transfer to Permanency, Associate Trainers, Class Size maxima, Contact hours, Health and Safety, School/College partnerships, Tri-Partite Alignment Group (plus ‘College Sector of the Future Workstream’ and more generally ‘workforce planning’) and the wide range of issues from colleges up and down the country.

A period of pay stability should allow us to build further on the good work already undertaken.