LECTURERS have attacked Scottish college bosses over moves to enforce a one per cent pay rise despite ongoing concerns over the deal.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) hit out after Colleges Scotland decided to impose the controversial package.

The move comes just weeks after EIS lecturers voted overwhelmingly for industrial action because managers rejected claims for a much bigger increase to equalise pay across the sector.

The row comes after Scottish Government reforms of the sector which included a return to collective bargaining.

Negotiations have failed to provide a solution because there is a significant disparity between pay in different colleges across the country.

Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the EIS, said: "The intended unilateral imposition of a pay award which has been roundly rejected by the staff to whom it would apply exposes the deep flaws which exist in the national bargaining process in Scottish further education.

"As it stands, the Scottish Government is singularly failing to deliver on its policy commitment of a return to national pay bargaining in the sector.

"Management have refused to consider any moves towards such a set of national pay scales and the principle of equal pay across the sector and the imposition of this change will increase differentials between colleges rather than reduce them."

However, Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said the recommendation was taken with the "best financial interests" of the sector in mind.

She said: "We want to ensure lecturing staff do not suffer detriment in comparison to other staff across the sector. The three support staff unions have accepted the same pay rise of one per cent.

"Our preference would have been to reach a negotiated settlement with the EIS as we have with the support staff to ensure we bring the sector together with the same pay deal.

“The decision was further motivated by a real prospect that if money is not utilised by March 2016, there is a significant risk that this will be lost to the sector, due to the financial year end."

She said the EIS demands equated to an average pay increase of 13 per cent across the sector which was "neither affordable nor achievable".