Further education colleges face shutdown today as lecturers and support staff stage industrial action over a 2.3 per cent pay offer.

Members of Unison, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers and NATFHE will today hold a one-day strike, the first such action to be organised by all three unions.

They claim that teaching staff in the sector earn an average £3000 per year less than their counterparts in school sixth-forms.

Forum Response: Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Gerald Imison, deputy general secretary, said: "Despite a consensus from all parties that the further education system is in chaos, the government still abdicates its responsibility to become properly involved in finding urgent solutions.

"Whilst it stresses its commitment to the importance of life-long learning, it cannot ignore the fact that most of those who would benefit from it need to be educated within a post-compulsory education environment.

"The government cannot continue to stand by uttering sympathetic platitudes whilst demoralised lecturers leave colleges in order to earn a living wage elsewhere. Crucial to any solution is the need to pay lecturers properly and to treat them as the professionals they are."

Chris Wilson, chair of ATL's further education committee, added: "Today's strike represents unprecedented action by ATL members within the further education sector. We warned of the likelihood of action should employers not be prepared to make a realistic offer.

"We again appeal to the employers to re-open talks. Unless serious negotiations are re-started there is every possibility of an escalation of the dispute. ATL members in further education do not want this but equally a 2.3 per cent pay offer remains unacceptable. The choice is the Association of College's. Fair pay or further action?"

Forum Response: NATFHE

Paul Mackney, general secretary for NATFHE, told ePolitix.com: "The employers are proving incapable of resolving this dispute. We have done everything we can to get the employers back around the table to avoid disruption to our students' education.

"And the government is not completely blameless. Ministers could have helped to stiffen the resolve of the Association of Colleges to negotiate in good faith to close the pay gap. Neither has seemed willing to go the extra mile needed to avoid this strike".

Forum Response: Unison

Dave Prentis, general secretary for Unison, told ePolitix.com: "I am angry at the employers. We have left the door open for negotiations but they would rather drag us through the courts on technical legal points.

"The employers attempt to get an injunction was a disgraceful attempt to stop Unison members taking part in the strike. Unison members will not be intimidated by such bullying tactics.

"The employers seem to have forgotten the plight of dedicated further education college staff who have become the poor relations of the education sector."