LECTURERS at Scottish universities will consider whether to take industrial action in response to a 1.4 per cent pay offer branded derisory by their union, the EIS University Lecturers’ Association (EIS ULA).

The subinflation offer, amounting to a real-terms pay cut, has prompted the union to launch a consultative ballot this summer — not only to ask members to reject or accept the offer but also whether they would consider industrial action to improve it.

Launching the ballot, EIS ULA national officer Garry Ross said the offer represented a clear injustice and stood in stark contrast not only to the 4.14 per cent raise paid to their lecturer colleagues in further education but to pay awards among NHS workers and the wider public sector.

He said: “This 1.4 per cent offer is not just disappointing, it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers and academic-related members.

“Our members are working harder than ever, delivering world-class education and research, yet their financial security continues to be undermined by employers who appear unwilling to offer a fair deal.

“This offer fails to recognise the essential contributions of our members and does nothing to address the severe impact of rising living costs or the subinflationary rises they have experienced over a number of years.”

A Scottish government spokesperson responded: “Staffing and operational matters are the responsibility of individual universities.

“The Scottish government is not directly involved in higher education pay negotiations but we are absolutely clear that [its fair work convention] must be the guiding principle for all employment-related decisions, and we continue to urge university management and the respective trade unions to reach decisions that ensure employees are treated fairly.”