AYR COLLEGE lecturers went on strike this week as part of a long-running dispute in their pursuit of a fair cost of living pay.

Disgruntled teaching staff at the college campus joined hundreds of colleges across Scotland who took part in protest.

The walk-out took place across Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 by members of EIS-FELA who represent further education lecturers.

Disgruntled Ayr College lecturer Jim Armstrong told the Ayr Advertiser: “Most public sector workers have had a cost of living pay rise in line with the Governments public sector pay policy however college lectures haven’t been given a pay rise.

“We’re fighting for a cost of living pay increase having not had one for the last three years.

“We feel as though we’re not getting anywhere, we’re pressuring the Scottish Government to try and intervene in the dispute.

Its estimated that 75% of lecturers at Ayr College took part in the action affecting courses across the board.

Picket lines were formed outside of the Ayr campus next to the Fire station with a number of college staff showing up to show their frustration.

The college was still left open for any students who wished to use the time to study or had exams to sit.

Jim added: “We are all concerned with our students towards the end of the academic year. There’s never a good time to take strike action but we feel like we’ve been backed into a corner with our employer’s Colleges Scotland.”

College bosses last week slammed the action taken by lecturers saying it is “targeting” students at a crucial point of their course.

John Gribben, Director of Employment Services at Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association, said: “We are disheartened that the EIS-FELA continue to target the students by striking during the exam period and withholding their assessment results from colleges.”

“However, colleges put contingency plans in place, and they are telling us that the strikes are not having an impact and business is continuing as normal.”

But Jim rubbished claims that the industrial action was going to impact students getting their results.

He added: “We can’t under out contract withhold results. What we do is refuse to input the results into the college system.

“Every student should get their results, but it will be done by someone else as an administrative task.”