Staff at Ayrshire College are set to strike next month in a dispute over pay, terms and conditions. 

Support staff at the college will join more than 2,000 others in walking out in colleges across Scotland. 

Staff belonging to the UNISON union voted by 93 per cent to strike in April, and a national strike day on September 7 will be followed by rolling strikes in colleges across the country.

Although college employers have increased their offer from two per cent to £3,500 flat rate payment over two years, this comes with a real threat of compulsory redundancies of college support staff, says UNISON.  

The union represents employees who are vital to college services and student support across Scotland.

They include librarians, IT specialists, technicians, administrative and business support staff, cleaners, canteen workers and estate management staff. 

UNISON further education branch secretary Chris Greenshields said: “College staff were due this pay increase a year ago.

"It’s unacceptable, even by the standards of the college sector, to take this long to agree a pay deal.  

"The employers’ idea of a resolution to the crisis is to threaten our members with compulsory redundancy.

"Effectively members are being asked to pay for their own pay rise with their job, during a cost-of-living crisis.

"We need the same guarantee that has been given to the rest of the public sector that there will be no compulsory redundancies."

Other colleges where strike acrion will take place include City of Glasgow College and West College Scotland.

Colleges Employers Scotland has been contacted for comment.