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Strike date announced in Lambeth College dispute

25 March 2014

Members of UCU at Lambeth College will be on strike next Tuesday (1 April) in a row over proposed changes to terms and conditions.

Yesterday the union revealed that a massive 95% of staff who voted backed the call for industrial action. UCU said it still hoped a resolution to the dispute could be found before the strike. However, it added that the strong mandate for strike action demonstrated just how bad things had got at the college.

The dispute centres around the college's desire to change the contracts of new staff. Under the proposals new staff would see their workloads increase, but their sick pay and holidays cut. UCU said the changes would leave some Lambeth staff working longer hours than all but three of London's 38 further education colleges.

The union warned that a system where staff had different contracts, hours and benefits would do little to enhance morale. It added that there were fears the college would seek to impose the new contracts on existing staff in the future.

UCU regional official, Una O'Brien, said: 'Following an overwhelming endorsement for strike action, UCU members at Lambeth College will be on strike next week. Nobody wants to go on strike and forfeit a day's pay and the college can still ensure students' studies are not disrupted.

'It is time the college understood the depth of anger there is over these proposed changes and took staff's grievances seriously. Management needs to work with us to ensure the college is fit for purpose, downgrading staff terms and conditions is not the way to do that.'

Last updated: 10 December 2015

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