Lecturers threaten Barnet College with industrial action

5:00pm Monday 6th July 2009

By Rebecca Lowe

A GROUP of lecturers are threatening industrial action against Barnet College over new contracts.

The University and College Union (UCU) has accused the college of trying to get teaching on the cheap after lecturers were told to expect longer working hours in return for a one-off payment.

The contracts, to come into effect in September, would extend the maximum teaching hours from 23 to 27 per week, reduce annual leave by two weeks and slash the redundancy notice period from four to three weeks.

In return, the college would offer staff a lump sum payment of £1,500 and a guarantee that they would not be made redundant before July 2011.

Lecturers could opt to stay with their current contracts, but were warned that decisions over future pay awards would "take this into account".

David Armstrong, Barnet College’s UCU branch secretary and a lecturer at the college, said: "Our workload grows every year, but we continue to perform our tasks with commitment and professionalism, despite the shoddy treatment we receive from the college in return.

"People would be on their knees if they had to teach 27 hours a week, and it will only make the college a very modest saving.

"The college boasts about its achievements, but we are the front line soldiers and we get kicked in the teeth."

In a letter sent to all lecturers on June 15, the college acknowledges it needs to make serious financial savings due to the recession and reduced Government funding.

The new contracts, it states, would help to plug a £1,293,000 deficit - three per cent of the total college budget - with the aim of achieving financial stability by 2013.

Marilyn Hawkins, college principal, said: ”I have been extremely proud of our work in building a large and successful college during challenging circumstances, at a time when many other colleges have fallen by the wayside.

"The contract needs to change to safeguard the future of our college so that we continue to deliver our excellent teaching and learning in a cost effective way, while allowing greater flexibility.

"It is vital that we reach out to all in our community, including people who have lost their jobs in the recession, those in employment who want to improve their skills and people wanting to enter the job market for the first time.”

Chris Odams, Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) secretary and lecturer, was not convinced by the college's arguments.

He said: “Despite UCU's and ATL's constructive proposals, the college has made no attempt to take this opportunity to safeguard the interests of both staff and students.

"The college will not retain and recruit quality lecturers with the new contracts.”