EDUCATION: College lecturers launched two days of strike action today over changes to job roles. 

Members of the Educational Institute of Scotland Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) will continue action tomorrow in a long-running dispute over concerns that the job of lecturer is threatened by replacement with lower-paid roles.

But the Colleges Scotland Employers’ Association called it an “unfounded allegation,” claiming: “This has never been the case, and the EIS-FELA have accepted this.”

LABOUR: Scottish Labour will pledge tomorrow to “repair and renew the safety net” and introduce a minimum income guarantee using Holyrood’s social security powers.

The party will commit to doubling the Scottish child payment to £20 per week, with an extra £5 for disabled children, and automating payments so that families don’t need to apply.

The party says it would introduce a minimum income standard, with a commission launched to work out the precise value in the wake of the pandemic.

FERRIES: The Scottish Greens have pledged to develop a “green fleet” strategy to upgrade Scotland’s ferry network.

Ahead of May’s election, the party has said it would end the competitive bidding process and recategorise inter-island ferries as publicly owned Scottish national infrastructure, delivered by Transport Scotland and Calmac.

Co-leader Patrick Harvie said these were “vital lifeline services,”adding: “We need to ensure these services are adequately resourced and run for communities.”

COVID: Nicola Sturgeon has said the continued suppression of coronavirus and the success of the vaccine rollout mean further restrictions can be lifted from Monday. 

The First Minister confirmed the country will move from level four to level three of the Scottish government’s five tiers of restrictions.

Ms Sturgeon said it was expected that all of Scotland would move to level two on May 17, while the intention is for Scotland to move to level one from June 7 and to level zero in “late June.”