Second HE union holds pay ballot

The results of the ballot are expected within a fortnight

The leaders of Scotland's biggest teaching union have urged lecturers to reject a proposed deal on pay and conditions.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) is due to send out ballot papers during the next few days.

Its executive decided by 12 votes to seven to turn down a proposed pay rise of 6.44% over two years, coupled with changes to staff grades and pay negotiations.

The ballot closes on 26 March. It is possible industrial action may follow.

The EIS executive's recommendation comes after the Association of University Teachers (AUT) organised a week of strikes.

The AUT is currently boycotting coursework marking and organising exams.

Among its higher education sector membership, the EIS mainly represents staff at former polytechnics, which became universities in 1992.

Natfhe - the equivalent union for "new" universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - has recommended its members accept the offer.

A lecturer, also member of the AUT, who did not wish to be named, told BBC News Online: "I hope the EIS members vote against it. The situation with the deal is intolerable.

"I'm sure Natfhe members will vote against what their executive is saying. Their executive is standing alone on this."

The AUT, which mainly represents staff at the older universities, established before 1992, says the pay offer, by the Universities and Colleges Employers Association, is an "insult".

It estimates lecturers' wages have fallen by 40% compared with other workers' over two decades.

It also opposes plans to end nationwide pay negotiations and change the grades of some staff.

The EIS, which has several thousand members in the higher education sector, said it would not comment until the results of its ballot were known.

Roger Kline, head of universities at Natfhe, said all unions had agreed last November that they could not make "further progress" on pay this year.

He added that his members had voted three-to-one to ask employers for five improvements to the framework for negotiations and that these demands had been met.

Mr Kilne added: "Having done so, it is no surprise that our executive is recommending the suggested improvements."