SCOTLAND’S college lecturers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in their long-running pay battle.

College union EIS-FELA’s new mandate for strike action, which received 76.5 per cent support on a 58.8 per cent turnout, marks the latest chapter in an 18 month-long pay dispute in a sector facing over £30 million in Scottish government cuts next year.

EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley commented: “Scotland’s college lecturers have delivered a very clear result in this statutory ballot and an equally clear mandate for the continuation of industrial action in support of a fair pay settlement.

“Scotland’s college lecturers should have received a pay rise in September 2022.

“Today, almost a year-and-a-half later, our members are still waiting for college employers to deliver a fair pay offer.”

Citing Scottish government plans to slash college budgets by 4.7 per cent next year, College Employers Scotland director Gavin Donoghue said: “We urge the EIS-FELA to recognise the financial reality facing colleges and engage with employers to find a resolution to the pay dispute, allowing colleges to continue providing the world-class learning experience our students deserve.”