A UNION has warned that it will have to consider industrial action in Scotland's colleges if employers do not return with a new offer to resolve a pay dispute.
Unison has said it has called on Angela Constance, cabinet secretary for education to intervene in the pay negotiations for thousands of lecturing and support staff in 27 colleges which they say have "all but broken down".
Union leaders say they are "astonished" at the responses from further education employers.
Their pay claim, lodged in February, is for a £1000 flat rate per year with effect from April 1, 2014, which it said would cost the sector £4.4 million.
A union spokesman union leaders were "astonished" when employers said they needed to get agreement of all 27 college boards before they could progress any talks and that they estimate a delay until at least October 2015.
"Unison have said that unless employers can return with a something on the table in June 2015 then they will have to consider industrial action," said the spokesman.
Unison has said that some 7000 staff were shed in further education between 2009 and 2013 providing savings of £175 million and that over 300 members of staff are paid below the Living Wage.
Chris Greenshields, chairman of Unison's further education committee said: "National negotiations have become farcical.
"College bosses say they cannot respond to Unison's reasonable claim until October at the earliest. Our members, who have delivered significant organisational change and who have suffered big job losses and increased workload, have lost patience.
"There is a meeting in June and, unless there is a firm proposal, then we are headed for industrial unrest in this key sector."
It is understood Unison have is also seeking that all colleges should become Living Wage employers.
It says that in the last five years a staff member on £15,000 a year, has lost £1939 due to wage freezes and below-inflation rises.
Scottish Government, Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council have been approached for comment.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "National pay bargaining will bring common sense to FE pay and end the unfair system of having 40 different sets of terms and conditions across the country. That's why we passed legislation to clear the way to establish a national system.
"Negotiations are underway and it is for the employers and staff representatives to take these forward however we are always happy to discuss concerns Unison may have."
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