NEWS that college lecturers have voted to strike is disappointing on a number of fronts, not least because it means the negotiating roadmap forged between teaching unions and college managers appears to have been lost.

This is being billed by some as a dispute over pay, but look below the surface and it becomes clear this is actually a fight about conditions rather than money.

This particular conflict has been brewing for some time, of course, after the Scottish Government promised that college lecturers’ pay across the country would be harmonised at a higher rate.

College managers don’t dispute the rises, but say they won’t go forward with them until a number of changes related to holidays and conditions are accepted in return, something lecturers and their unions are not prepared to do. Deadlock now exists, with neither side willing to budge.

When you examine the now entrenched positions on both sides you see that there was always going to be conflict. The mergers of Scotland’s colleges from 37 to 20 has been hard on both teaching staff and managers, and neither now feel inclined towards concession.

One could also argue, however, that the fault of this dispute really lies at the door of a Scottish Government that was keen to complete the mergers, secure a pay deal and avoid strike action before the last Holyrood election, but has been less enthusiastic about helping college managers follow through.

After making a promise on pay, it now appears unwilling or unable to conclude the process, noticeably standing back as the two sides up the ante.

And, of course, the people who have most to lose in this industrial action are the tens of thousands of Scottish students who will miss out on teaching at what is such a crucial time in the academic year.

With this in mind, we would urge the teaching unions and college managers to break the deadlock and work towards a solution both sides can live with. And we hope the Scottish Government will look again at how it follows through on promises.