A REVISED pay offer for lecturers at South West College (SWC) has been described as a "significant step in the right direction" by a union representative. 

Under the terms of the new offer, minimum lecturers’ pay will be uplifted to £30,000, with 8.4 per cent revalorisation, and £1,000 will be added to all other lecturers’ pay points. 

Acceptance of the offer will see the immediate cessation of all action short of strike at SWC.

Members are currently being asked for their views on the offer.

NI representative for the UCU,  Katherine Clarke, said the offer shows a "clear commitment" to resolve the ongoing pay dispute. 

"We recognise this as a significant step in the right direction," she said.  "It shows a clear commitment from the Minster and employers to work toward pay parity between lecturers and schoolteachers."

In addition to a commitment to teacher pay scale parity, the offer also includes the agreement for an independent examination of pay, conditions and workload of academic staff.

"There are many welcome elements to this offer and it is on that basis, the Union are going to recommend acceptance of it," Mrs. Clarke continued. 

"It's not just the fact that percentage pay offer has been significantly increased; there are also commitments to look at workload and to look at reforming the industrial relations framework, which isn't fit for purpose."

Mrs. Clarke concluded: "We hope that after four years in dispute, 15 days on the picket line, and continuous action short of strike, this offer is enough to show lecturers that their concerns have been heard and will be acted upon."