A TEACHING union has branded the Further Education Minister “missing in action” as anger grows at “vindictive” deductions from striking college workers.

Scotland’s college lecturers, locked in a pay dispute for a staggering three years, have hit out at college principals’ decision to cut 100 per cent of pay from workers, even when they are undertaking action short of strike.

In an effort to counter what the union brand “aggressive tactics” from employers, EIS-FELA’s executive have agreed a £5 million package of hardship support to striking members in the sector, who have gone without a pay rise during two years which have seen the highest inflation in a generation.

The latest SNP-Green Scottish Budget, which cut almost £60m from the sector this year, not only hampered a deal but sparked a crisis which has put some institutions on the brink of insolvency and raised fears of further redundancies across Scotland’s colleges.

Speaking in Holyrood on Thursday, SNP Further Education Minister Graeme Dey told MSPs that he accepted that recent cuts on top of subinflation settlements to the sector in recent years “puts them in a challenging position.”

But challenged on his role in finding a resolution to the Scotland-wide dispute, Mr Dey told the chamber: “The Scottish government will not directly intervene in the negotiations and seek to force a resolution, as to do so would fundamentally undermine and alter the voluntary national bargaining process and would have long-term consequences.

“As minister, my role in this is simply a convening one.”

He announced further financial support for striking workers, but EIS general secretary Andrea Bradley remained unimpressed by Mr Dey’s performance.

She said: “Scotland’s college lecturers want an end to this dispute and a fair pay settlement, but they will not be bullied into submission by the vindictive actions of college management and by the complete abdication of responsibility from Scottish government ministers.

“We will not back down until a fair deal is reached which pays college lecturers fairly and allows them to return to working normally, for the benefit of Scotland’s college students, the wider community, and our whole society.”

College Employers Scotland was contacted for comment.