LECTURERS in Greenock have passed a vote of no confidence in the principal and senior management of West College Scotland.

The EIS-FELA branch took the decision after accusing principal Liz Connolly and bosses at the college of escalating a dispute over pay.

Industrial action was followed by protests outside the college's Finnart Street campus.

The Tele reported last week on the college's decision to refuse to hand over pay to lecturers taking part in the results boycott.

Local politicians have lined up to support the lecturers and warned of continued concerns about the future of the college.

EIS-FELA members held a demonstration outside the Finnart Street campus. (Image: contributed)

Industrial action at WCS, and colleges across Scotland, has been suspended while all members are balloted on an improved pay deal after the Scottish Government stepped in with extra cash.

Branch secretary Mark Gillan, based at the Greenock campus, said: "Our lecturers are really, really angry about the decision to withhold salaries. We care passionately about the college and our students.

"“Unfortunately, the principal and senior management of West College Scotland escalated action by declaring that lecturers who participate in industrial action short of a strike will have salaries withheld.

"The local EIS-FELA branch passed a motion of no confidence in the Principal and the senior management team.

“The branch expressed its profound dismay and strong disapproval of the actions taken by the principal and the senior management team regarding the withholding of wages from lecturers engaged in legitimate and democratically mandated industrial action, which includes a results boycott."

West College Scotland principal Liz Connolly. (Image: contributed)

Mr Gillan added: “The possibility of a deal is on the horizon. There is a suspension of national strike action and a suspension of local protests in respect to our local dispute.

“The principal and senior management team have suspended ‘deeming’ until the end of this week.

"We wait to see how things develop and reflect upon mass protests outside of West College Scotland.

“I would, as usual, recommend college courses to any prospective students and hope all students enjoy their studies for the forthcoming academic year.”

Inverclyde Council recently passed a motion with cross party support calling for action to bring the industrial action to an end and to invest in further education.

Councllor Francesca Brennan, who moved the motion, said: ""We appreciate that strikes have been suspended and that the EIS union says that progress is being made, but we were extremely disappointed by the recent actions of the West College Scotland management team.

"Senior figures at West College Scotland have escalated the local situation with a more extreme stance that sees them withholding wages for lecturers engaged in democratic industrial action short of strike.

"Not all college management teams have gone down this route. We urge West College Scotland to re-think their decision to punish their workers for seeking a justified pay increase during a cost of living crisis."

Save Our College campaigner Councillor Tommy McVey is also putting pressure on bosses over the future of the college.

He said: "The lecturers are dedicated professional people who put their students first and don’t take industrial action lightly.

"However, they haven’t had a pay increase for nearly four years whilst other workers in the public sector have had several.

"It’s completely unfair and they have been left with no option but to take industrial action.

"The decision to dock their wages was unacceptable and I support the lecturers motion of no confidence in the principal and the senior management team.

"I believe we are witnessing the managed decline of the Greenock campus despite what others have said.

"We need a college in Inverclyde and if we don’t fight for it we are going to lose it."

A West College Scotland spokesperson said: "The decision to consider legally withholding salaries from staff members undertaking a resulting boycott, in breach of contract, was taken by the overwhelming majority of Scottish college principals.

"Some of those colleges have already withheld pay. West College Scotland has not and continues to suspend the right to take action as it looks to support a positive conclusion to the national pay dispute.

"West College Scotland remains committed to providing the highest quality learning and training opportunities to the people of Inverclyde with more than 400 courses on offer across the college.

"We will always adjust course provision in line with local demand and need, but we believe West College Scotland has a bright future in Greenock, where we’ve experienced student growth, introduced new sector-leading courses and are making significant investments in our Finnart Street campus to ensure our students can continue study and learn in the best possible environment.”