COLLEGE support staff across Scotland will walk out for a second time this month in an increasingly bitter pay row in the troubled further education (FE) sector.

But West College Scotland will not be closing its doors for pupils this time around.

Pupils have been told it's their own choice to head in to college that day and have been told to accept limited services, although it is unclear at this stage exactly what services the establishment will be without. 

West College Scotland Principal, Audrey Cumberford, said:“Our absolute priority is our students and minimising disruption to their studies at this important time of the year.

“We expect our teaching staff to come in to work on Tuesday and we are confident the arrangements we have put in place will allow classes to continue as normally as possible. 

"Students should attend classes as usual. All our buildings will be open, including the Waterfront campus in Greenock and the Centre for Performing Arts in Paisley.”

The move follows strike action taken by Unison’s further education members earlier this month and is the second national strike within a year of the new National Bargaining arrangements being set up.

Some 2,500 support staff from Unison and GMB – including classroom assistants, estates staff, key finance staff, librarians, catering staff, cleaning staff and others – will go on strike on Tuesday, September 27.

A further two consecutive days are planned for October as the autumn terms in Scottish colleges is beset by closed campuses, cancelled classes and a chaotic student experience.

The row centres on the pay rise for 2016, as college bosses awarded lecturing staff a flat rate rise of £450, while most low-paid support staff were offered £230 – almost half that awarded to their teaching colleagues.

On the dispute itself, Ms Cumberford, said:“This is a national dispute between support staff who are members of Unison and employers. We believe the national offer made to support staff is affordable and fair.

“The premise of the award is a 2.5% increase over two years. Most support staff will receive the same percentage increase as lecturing staff, although for staff at the lower end of the pay scale the percentage increase will be significantly higher.  For example, employees earning less than £22,000 will receive a real increase of £800 or 3.6%.

“At West College Scotland relations between management and all trade unions remain positive and mutually respectful.”