James Watt College has defended their lecturer strikes at the Kilwinning Campus over pay conditions and reassured students that it will not impact on their education.

The ongoing dispute between the college management and members of EIS-FELA stems from a disagreement over salary conservation.

Recently, s1kilwinning reported that lecturers had walked out in a third day of protest at the local campus.

James Watt has since announced that as a result of the financial outline set by the Scottish Government, they had to make huge savings in order to provide services.

Negotiations in May 2010 to remove a number of posts - including that of senior lecturer - resulted in many jobs being removed through restructuring and voluntary severance.

However, as ongoing negotiations over the removal of the senior lecturer position found no agreement, the role was reverted back to that of lecturer.

The EIS-FELA trade union is arguing for lifetime salary conservation for affected employees.

But a spokeswoman for James Watt College feared that if this were to be granted, there would be no savings at all for the higher education facility.

Current senior lecturers - now employed as lecturers - are currently paid £6,200 more per year for doing the same job as lecturers.

With lifelong salary conservation they will always be paid £6,200 more than colleagues doing exactly the same job.

The spokeswoman said: “The college does not believe this is fair, reasonable or acceptable under Equal Pay legislation.

“The college has made EIS-FELA numerous offers of time limited - and affordable - salary conservation, each of which has been rejected.”

The management team at James Watt therefore hopes to preserve a quality service to students in light of significant financial constraints.

The spokeswoman added: “Management and EIS-FELA met with ACAS again, with the aim of reaching a resolution to the dispute and are making themselves available at any time to continue discussions.

“JWC management has indicated they are prepared to go to binding arbitration.”

However, despite the involvement of ACAS, EIS-FELA has chosen to continue with their programme of industrial action.

During this period, James Watt hopes to do everything it can to keep the impact on students to a minimum and have reassured them that they will not be disadvantaged by the strikes.

Missed classes are being rescheduled and learning plans are in place to ensure all students are able to complete their course within the usual timeframe.

Students who normally receive bursary and travel expenses are continuing to do so and a text messaging service has been set up to keep people informed should there be any impact on their classes.

If a class is cancelled because the lecturer is on strike and no other member of staff can cover for them; arrangements are in place for students to carry out directed study.

The spokeswoman said: “Members of the management team are keen to highlight their availability to discuss any issues learners should have.

“Class lecturers and curriculum managers are also more than happy to talk through any specific concerns with students.

“James Watt College is fully committed to reaching a swift and satisfactory resolution with EIS-FELA.

“The priority, as always, is to provide the best possible service to our learners.”