Adverts in London papers to try and resolve Lambeth College dispute

The union said it wanted to break the impasse at the college but, following refusals from Lambeth principal Mark Silverman to meet for talks, it felt it had little choice but to set out the union's case and call again for negotiations in a public forum.

The union has placed adverts directly addressing college students and their parents in leading south London titles the Wandsworth Guardian and the South London Press.

UCU members walked out on indefinite strike action last Tuesday (3 June) and members of the trade union UNISON are into the second day of a two-day strike today (Thursday).

The dispute centres on a row over contracts for new staff. UCU says the controversial contracts would create a two-tier workforce with new staff on inferior terms that would increase working hours, cut sick pay and reduce holiday entitlements.

UCU regional official, Una O'Brien, said: 'The Lambeth College principal Mark Silverman's continued refusal to negotiate with us means this long-running dispute shows little sign of ending. We have taken to advertising in the press to ensure the public are aware that we want to negotiate; we want to end the disruption.

'The reason staff feel they have no alternative but to take strike action is because the college has failed to listen to them. It has introduced contracts with inferior terms and conditions and created a two-tier work force.'