Video: Lecturers take strike action

4:46pm Thursday 24th April 2008

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COLLEGE lecturers went out on strike today (April 24) asking for their pay to be brought closer in line with school teachers and inflation.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Bromley College and Greenwich Community College joined colleagues around the country taking action.

UCU members at Bromley College were picketing at the Rookery Lane campus from 7.45am until 11.30am.

Further education (FE) lecturers' average pay is around six per cent less than that of equivalent school teachers.

Bromley College UCU branch chairman Steve Collinson said: "FE lecturers are not only paid less than school teachers, but lecturers at Bromley College are paid less than many of their colleagues in other FE colleges.

"Out of 40 London FE colleges only 10 pay their teaching staff less. The only thing Bromley College is top for is the number of hours lecturers have to teach."

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU, said: "College lecturers feel undervalued, despite their successes, which the government has recognised.

"The considerable difference in the average pay of lecturers and teachers doing the same work is grossly unfair."

Members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), who teach in schools, are also striking today over a separate pay claim.