Nottingham Trent lecturers vote for strike action

• Over three quarters vote for strike action*
• Delegation to present 11,000 strong petition to governors this afternoon
• Rally planned for 6 October and first action for 21 October

The union warned today that if there is not a breakthrough in negotiations staff will take strike action on Tuesday 21 October.

This afternoon a delegation of UCU members will gather outside the Centre for Effective Learning in Science (CELS) building on the Clifton Campus from 3pm. They want to speak with the board of governors ahead of their 3.45pm meeting and impress upon them the urgency of the situation and to ask them to use their influence to help resolve the dispute. The delegation will also be holding a 20 foot by four foot banner containing 11,000 signatures opposing the university's actions.

Local UCU members are angry that the university will formally terminate recognition of UCU - the world's largest post-16 education trade union. Despite NTU saying it will continue to deal with the union, it is insisting that it will only recognise UCU if it complies with its new proposals.

UCU says Nottingham Trent has been attempting to tear up the current terms for negotiating with the union for months in favour of radically inferior arrangements that would marginalise the campus unions and cut facility time for union reps by 80%.

The existing recognition agreement signed by the unions and the university provides for nine months notice of termination. On 4 July the University wrote to UCU and said it was aware that it should give nine months' notice, but had decided to terminate the agreement on 4 October.

There will be a national Rally outside the Royal Centre in Nottingham from 12.30 on Monday 6 October. UCU members from around the country will be attending as the vice-chancellor talks to new students inside.

NTU UCU representative, Mark Weinstein, said: 'We do not want to be forced into a position where we have to take industrial action, but local UCU members have made it quite clear today that they are prepared to take industrial action unless the University sorts this matter out. Today's petition demonstrates the strength of feeling and we will be joined by colleagues from around the country for next Monday's rally.'

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Nottingham Trent University needs to understand that UCU does not take threats like this lightly. Union members have a right to expect to be properly protected at work and not messed around like this. Nobody involved with NTU wants to be taking industrial action, but the university's conduct has forced members into this position.'

* 77% of eligible UCU members, who voted, voted for industrial action