SCOTTISH college lecturers will be able to earn up to £40,000 under a new pay deal between unions and management.
Colleges Scotland, which represents principals, has agreed the figure as the top of a new pay scale for all un-promoted college teaching staff.
However, the agreement does not provide any detail on the other salary levels within the scale or what terms and conditions will be expected in return.
The figure has been agreed because it equates to the highest current salary in the sector, but lecturers who receive it work more flexibly than other staff and spend more time teaching. The pay deal will also give college staff a cash sum of £450 for 2016/17.
Currently college lecturers can receive between £27,000 and £39,000 for doing the same job in different parts of the country because pay negotiation were done on a local basis. In future pay scales will be equalised with increases decided nationally.
The Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS) union, which has recommended acceptance of the offer, hailed the deal as a victory after a series of strikes.
John Kelly, the union's president for the college sector, said: "The new pay offer is a good agreement that settles pay until April 2017 and agrees the top of the scale salary for un-promoted lecturers across colleges in Scotland to be implemented in steps by April 2019.
"The offer also sets out a timetable to establish national pay scales and a common set of terms and conditions for all teaching staff.
"This demonstrates what can be achieved by workers standing united and working collectively through their trade union to stand up for their rights."
Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: "This is a significant step forward. We hope that all the staff will accept this improved offer and that together we can work towards a modernised workforce that will deliver the best possible experience for students."
EIS staff will now be balloted on whether to accept the new offer.
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