FURTHER education lecturers in Chorley have been balloted on possible strike action over pay.

The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE) will ballot its members in 30 colleges, including Chorley's Runshaw, throughout the North West following a decision from the Employers' Federation to award lecturers on new contracts a pay increase of just 2.4 per cent, with no increase for tutors on current contracts. The last rise was in 1993.

NATFHE has lodged a pay claim with the Association of Colleges demanding a flat £1,500 pay rise as well as a catch-up element to make up for the lack of increase for those on silver book contracts, who haven't had a rise for four years.

The ballot follows a decision at the annual conference to start opposing pay terms nationally, beginning with a one-day strike, on Thursday, November 28.

Vice-principal of Runshaw, Mike Sheeham, is confident that no strike will take place.

He said: "It is exceedingly unlikely. The going rate in terms of a pay rise is 2.4 per cent, whereas we offered all our lecturers 3.1 per cent, which is over half a per cent up on what was asked."

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