Manchester college lecturers vote for strike action
Lecturers at a further education college in Manchester have voted for strike action over their terms and conditions.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at The Manchester College, are planning to stage a one-day strike on 30 June.
Some 141 members voted for strike action with 66 voting against.
The college said it has "de-recognised" the union over its decision to air its grievances in a newspaper advert.
A Manchester College spokeswoman said: "Of a total number of 962 staff eligible to be members of UCU, we have been informed by the union that they have 504 members within the college.
"Of those 504 members, only 207 voted in total."
A UCU spokeswoman said: "Nobody wants strike action and we do want to go back to the negotiating table, but while the college has de-recognised the union that is impossible.
She said new contracts were "unfair" because teachers of 14 to 19-year-olds are being offered longer holidays than teachers of adults.
Union members received a letter from college principal, Peter Tavernor, following the result of the ballot informing them of the decision to de-recognise the union.
He said that 500 staff had already signed new contracts at the college, which was formed in 2008 out of the old City College Manchester and Manchester College of Arts and Technology.
Sites include Shena Simon Campus, Abraham Moss Campus, North Manchester Sixth Form, Windrush Centre, Nicholls Campus and St John's Centre.
The letter said: "Regardless of UCU's behaviour, we have continued to attempt to engage effectively with the union, but these recent underhand tactics have clearly indicated that this is not going to be possible."
Referring to the anticipated impact of the government's £6.2bn cuts, the letter continued: "It is ridiculous and completely misleading that UCU insist that we just continue as we are."
A UCU national spokesman said that the union was planning to formally notify the college of its decision to strike.