Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 23 March 2021.
Iain Gray
Labour
I appreciate the Minister’s desire for strike action to be avoided, but an agreement on all points was reached in the negotiating committee. The trade union side ratified that agreement, but the employer side has reneged on it and refused to ratify it. Does the minister think that he really should speak to Colleges Scotland, ensure that it ratifies the agreement that it made, end college staff’s fear of an attack on terms and conditions and remove the need to strike?
A group of workers who have united to promote their common interests.
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