acs scotland is a new registered trade union which was set up in 2009 for all staff who work in further education in Scotland. The union’s main objective to have a sharp focus on FE and to work for everyone employed in it. It is the only trade union in Scotland that is totally focused on Further Education – working for all staff in the sector.

The union has been highlighting issues with the Scottish Government and will endeavour to get their message across to all stakeholders – including the Scottish Funding Council and Scotland’s Colleges (which is the trading name for Scottish Further Education Unit and the Association of Scotland’s Colleges).

We also aim to raise the profile and to promote Scotland’s Further Education Colleges both nationally and internationally.

At the election in May, our MSPs started to focus on preparing Scotland to move forward:

> training and equipping our young people and people who have never worked
> re-training and equipping people who have been working
> stretching students to allow them to reach their full potential
> offering part time study for those in work, to enhance their skills
> investing additional funds into FE to open the doors for more students instead of reducing student numbers

Colleges need additional investment and they need to review their costs - especially regarding the balance between teaching staff and other staff. Some colleges have more 'other staff' than teaching staff. We need to raise the profile of Scotland's College's and the vital work that we do.

Further college mergers are needed to reduce costs and overhead staffing, like the recent merger in Glasgow. We may end up with far fewer colleges - one college in Fife, one in Edinburgh, one in Angus etc - saving a vast amount of money on management and administration. This would also allow colleges to market effectively without having to compete against colleges a few miles away.

The SNP Scottish Government is moving forward for Scotland!!

IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN - colleges are moving towards mergers and saving money by reducing duplication!

acs scotland - able to support members with grievance and disciplinary issues. Initially set up in the Adam Smith College (Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Leven)

http://www.certoffice.org/Nav/Trade-Unions/Active.aspx

A new Website design is coming soon!