Today the college issued another update for students on the strike action being taken by EIS members at the college - lecturers, instructors and LDTs.

For more information on the strike, and for some FAQs from students. please check our strike update from last week

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS – COLLEGE STRIKE THIS WEDNESDAY

Dear students,

You may be aware that one of the college’s recognised trade unions, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), which represents teaching staff, is holding another day of strike action this week on Wednesday 8 March. The union also plans more strike days in the following weeks.

With the Edinburgh College Students’ Association elections taking place this week it is an important week for you as a student, with the opportunity to have your say in who will be leading and representing the student body in 2017/2018. Throughout this and for any further strike days, the college will continue to do everything we can to support you and your studies. For the strike day last week we were able to cover classes where needed and will do the same again on Wednesday.

Please read the information below so you know what the strike means for you:

 

The college will remain open and students should come in

All students should attend college as normal on Wednesday and class registers will be taken.
On strike days, teaching staff who are members of the EIS and choose to take part will not be at work. We will not know until the day of each strike what classes will be affected but, the same as for last week, we will cover classes where needed.
Staff not taking part in the strike will come to work as normal. College facilities will be open and available to students, including the libraries, IT services and food courts.

Full list of planned strike dates

  • Wednesday 8 March
  • Tuesday 14 March
  • Thursday 16 March
  • Tuesday 21 March
  • Wednesday 22 March
     

The strike is only at Edinburgh College

This strike is a local action only taking place at Edinburgh College, and has been called by the local branch of the EIS union. It is not being held at other colleges in Scotland

Moodle available

The college’s virtual learning environment, Moodle, will be available throughout strike action. Your lecturers will let you know in advance of anything important you should be aware of and any available materials.

School groups will not be coming in on strike days

As we do not know in advance what classes will be affected, we have decided it is best if students from schools do not come in on strike days. We have written to all schools to let them know.

Picketing

It is possible that during industrial action EIS members or officials will set up picket lines at college sites. Pickets are allowed by law to peacefully communicate information about a dispute and to attempt peacefully to persuade fellow members of staff not to work.

Pickets must not prevent staff attending work and any person who decides to cross a picket line, whether they are a member of EIS or not, must be allowed to do so.

As a student, you will also be able to cross the picket line as you wish. To be part of the official picket line, however, it is essential to be an EIS member.

Employers

We have written to all employers to let them know of the strike action so they will be aware of everything taking place.

This is the current position. We will keep you updated with any developments and will continue to work to minimise any disruption to your learning.

 

Best wishes,

Annette Bruton
Principal
Edinburgh College