TEACHING is suspended today at a Renfrewshire college due to an ongoing dispute over pay. 

There are no classes being delivered as the result of a sector-wide dispute between the Educational Institute of Scotland – Further Education Lecturers' Association (EIS-FELA) union and Colleges Scotland.

This is affecting the West College Scotland Paisley campus, with classes suspended for the day as a result. 

Lecturers have been picketing the campus this morning as part of the action. 

A rally is expected to take place outside the Scottish Parliament later today. 

According to the EIS-FELA executive committee, the dispute is about a "cost of living pay increase and ensuring that lecturers' pay keeps up with inflation".

READ MORE: College chiefs hit back at EIS ahead of strike action

Further strike dates have also been proposed, including for February 5, March 6 and March 21.

Ahead of the action, EIS General Secretary Larry Flanagan had been critical of college management. 

In a letter to Colleges Scotland, he wrote: "I write ahead of planned strike action by our FELA members to express my astonishment at the unwillingness of the College Management side to agree a meeting date ahead of the strike action, with a view to engaging in meaningful negotiations and possible avoiding the need for the strike to proceed.”

"I understand that FELA negotiators have moderated our original cost of living claim which now matches the deal agreed with support staff unions and should provide the basis for agreement to be reached.

"That cannot happen, however, unless management is at least prepared to come to the table."

READ MORE: Scotland's teachers set for strike action as pay deal remains out of reach

Shona Struther, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, said: "It is extremely disappointing that the EIS-FELA is taking disruptive strike action for the third time in four years, especially when the colleges’ pay offer, combined with salary rises from the ‘same pay’ settlement, would see lecturers’ national average pay increase over three years by 12.2%, which is a cash increase of £4,468. 

"This offer on the table is the best overall pay rise for public sector workers anywhere in the UK, but the EIS-FELA want even more."