It is just about the last thing Scotland’s college leaders will have wanted to read this week. Speaking to TESS, FE minister Shirley-Anne Somerville hinted that after years of funding cuts and constant financial pressures, an even tougher settlement could be on the horizon.
Many in the sector have long feared further cuts could well be around the corner, but they could have been forgiven for still holding out hope. After all, both sector leaders themselves and umbrella body Colleges Scotland have argued persuasively that more investment will be needed for the sector to be able to deliver on its many demands from government.
Among those, of course, is the need to deliver national bargaining. And indeed, there was another clear message in parallel with the minister’s warning over the possibility of further cuts. National bargaining was still the right strategy to be promoting, she insisted, and representatives of college management and staff had to get together and “see what can be done to deliver [it]”.
It is clear where she is coming from. The government committed to a return to national bargaining as a fundamental pillar of the restructuring of the sector; it is a noble ambition considering the disparities in pay and conditions.
The financial health of colleges
But now, more than ever, it is worth considering the overall environment surrounding the negotiations, which have been far from easy from the start. There have long been concerns about the financial health of at least some of Scotland’s colleges, and TESS has repeatedly reported on both these individual problems and the impact cuts have already had on staff and student numbers.
The problem is that there are costs associated with any new national pay deal. The teaching staff position has always been, understandably, that any settlement should come at the detriment of no one, and support staff have insisted they should receive the same settlement as their teaching colleagues.
In February last year, a survey by TESS revealed a number of colleges believed they could not fund a one per cent increase for all staff without running a deficit. And only this week, when asked about the financial health of the sector, one principal told me “this is not marginal stuff anymore. Some colleges simply cannot balance the books”.
It is impossible to know what impact further cuts would have
It is impossible to know what impact further cuts would have on the sector. And undoubtedly, every institution can always be that little bit more efficient. But, increasingly, it becomes harder to see how the positions of college leaders - who argue that they cannot afford pay rises - and unions, justly demanding the best deal possible for all their members, could be reconciled.
And that is without considering the disparities in the financial position, existing pay and conditions, size, location and character of Scotland’s colleges, making it difficult to see how, in pay and conditions terms, one size could ever possibly fit all.
For now, all those involved insist they remain committed to the process.
Last month saw the second day of strike action by support staff, and many feel that further industrial action by support staff and lecturers is as inevitable as a damp Scottish autumn.
I cannot help but wonder whether there may come a point when the question really ought to be: should the “dream” of increased pay and improved conditions for everyone in the sector take priority over putting all colleges on a stable financial footing and ensuring the best possible quality of provision for Scotland’s young people?
One thing is certain: this week’s interview certainly indicates that the sector cannot rely on the government to supply additional money - so difficult questions may need to be asked.
@jbelgutay
