UNION bosses have postponed the third college worker strike this term in the hope a pay deal can be reached.

Unison Scotland and GMB announced they will delay strike action, which was due to take place in West College Scotland’s Clydebank campus today and tomorrow, to give talks with Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) a chance to succeed.

Action short of strike action will continue with support staff withdrawing from acting in the additional roles of first aider, fire marshal and evacuation officer in certain establishments.

But unions have warned staff will walk out on November 7 and 8 if agreements are not met.

The move follows two days of strike action last month that saw chaos across colleges throughout Scotland, with classes cancelled, libraries unsupported, additional learning needs withdrawn.

The row centres on the pay rise for 2016, as college bosses awarded lecturing staff a flat rate rise of £450, while support staff earning over £22,000 were offered £230.

Chris Greenshields, chair of Unison Scotland’s further education committee, said: “The resolve of support staff in this dispute is growing every day.

“Politicians support our claim, students’ associations and the NUS are behind us.

“The EIS says that support staff should receive the same £450 pay rise awarded to their members back in Easter.

“The only people who do not see the fairness and equity of this outcome are 20 senior managers on six figure salaries.

“Hopefully common sense will prevail in the ACAS talks and industrial action can be averted.”

Cal Waterson, GMB full-time official, added: “Low-paid workers should not have been forced out on strike and to lose pay in order to fight for equal pay. GMB calls on the further education employers to resolve this dispute now.”

West College Scotland’s Clydebank campus were unavailable as The Post went to press.