John Patton

The president of the EIS, John Patton, has called for the restoration of national negotiating rights for Scottish further education lecturers.

The then employers' association withdrew from national bargaining in 1995 after staff rejected an offer in which some conditions would be negotiated locally.

Mr Patton said the Scottish Executive must ensure that college lecturers are paid fair salaries to work under permanent contract in professional conditions of service: "This is best achieved through bringing an end to negotiation on a college-by-college basis," he said.