A SECOND week of strike action has been suspended at Forth Valley College as talks continue with unionised lecturers.

As previously reported, members of EIS-FELA were due to take industrial action as part of a long-running national pay dispute with strikes set for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, August 27, 29 and 30.

Strikes were also due to go ahead last week as the college welcomed students back, but were suspended to allow for negotiations to take place.

As talks continue, the strikes remain suspended, “significant progress” having been made.

A spokesperson for Forth Valley College, said: “You will be aware that EIS-FELA were planning strike action [this] week as part of an ongoing sector wide pay dispute.

“Planned action was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, August 27, Thursday, August 29, and Friday, August 30.

“However, we have now been advised that strike action for [this] week has been suspended, whilst a new agreement offer is put to the EIS-FELA membership.

“However, Action Short Of Strike (ASOS) - including the resulting boycott - continues.

“We sincerely hope that the EIS-FELA membership accepts this proposal, which will avoid further industrial action.”

READ MORE: Arrangements in place at Forth Valley College amid lecturers' strike
 

Speaking after strikes were suspended last week, EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley explained that “significant progress” was made at a meeting with employers and the further education minister.

She said: “Discussions will now continue to iron out final details.

“Once a revised offer is formally on the table, our intention is to put this to EIS-FELA members in a ballot.

"Today has brought us closer to an end to this long-running dispute and we hope that discussions will now move quickly and smoothly towards a fair agreement for all parties and a return for students to the uninterrupted, quality learning and teaching that they need and deserve."