UNISON members at Borders College are set to go on strike next Tuesday.

The dispute is the result of college bosses awarding lecturing staff a £450 flat rate rise in May 2016, while most college support staff have been offered a flat rate of £230.

College support staff, which includes administration, admissions, funding, catering, cleaning, advisors, security, classroom assistants and technicians, are calling for fair pay and parity with their lecturing colleagues.

John Gallacher, UNISON’s Scottish organiser, said: “Striking is a last resort, but we will support our members in every way possible to achieve the same fair and reasonable pay settlement as already paid out to teaching colleagues.

"In a sector which sees top principals paid close to the salary of the Scottish First Minister, we should not be fighting over the difference between £230 and £450 for some 2,500 staff.

"UNISON has written to every principal and every MSP in a last ditch attempt to avoid this unnecessary and damaging dispute.”