Skipton lecturers set for first ever strike

Members of UCU are becoming increasingly frustrated by the inactions of the college around promised pay rises and are to ballot all members asking them if they will take local strike action for the very first time in the college's history.

The college had been talking to the union about how best implement the 2007 pay rise, but has now turned round and said the money is not available and the college's deficit is higher than expected. At a union meeting this week UCU members decided to ballot the entire Craven College branch over the proposed strike action.

The union declared its official dispute with the college in writing to the principal. The ballot is planned to open in September with the result known at the end of the month.

Local UCU representative, Iain Taylor, said: 'Staff at this college have never in their history taken local strike action. Balloting on the issue is an indicator of the strength of feeling here. No longer are we prepared to wait for the college to deliver pay rises we were promised.'

If staff vote in favour for strike the college could be brought to a standstill through strikes in the autumn term.