By Democrat reporter
Minister for Higher and Further Education Graeme Dey’s inaction in supporting college workers is an ‘insult’ Scottish Labour has said today, after the SNP failed to prevent job losses at City of Glasgow College following months of dispute.
Nearly 100 staff are facing job losses in what college administrators have labelled ‘unavoidable’ forced redundancies following a challenging financial year and a flat cash settlement from the government.
Despite this, in a letter to Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, Mr Dey referred to the issue as ‘regrettable’ but failed to state how he would act to save jobs. Pam Duncan-Glancy had called on Mr Dey to use the Scottish Government’s powers to audit the situation at the college but that has not been carried out.
This has effectively strangled the available budget for the college as it fails to keep up with inflation, putting tens of jobs on the line and forcing cuts across the board.
Minister for Higher and Further Education Graeme Dey’ and Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy.
Scottish Labour has criticised a ‘startling lack of action’ from leadership, after the SNP blamed a challenging economic situation instead of taking real action to prevent job losses caused by their flat cash settlement.
Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy said: “The lack of responsibility shown by Minister Dey throughout this entire dispute is shocking.
“Hundreds of college staff are facing forced job losses, but his response amounts to little more than saying ‘there is nothing we can do.’
“Mr Dey seems to have forgotten that he is a minister – not a commentator. Scottish Labour called for auditors to be brought in to assess the situation at City of Glasgow College but so far the SNP government has failed to make that happen.
“This is simply not good enough and is frankly an insult to staff who have been left waiting in limbo for months while their livelihoods are put on the line.
“The SNP must stop skirting this issue and get round the negotiating table with City of Glasgow College to see what action can be taken to prevent such a devastating cut to the college.”
Top picture: Students being taught by college lecturers. Picture by Bill Heaney