College lecturers at Colchester Institute today joined colleagues nationwide in one-day strike action, in protest at a 2.3 per cent pay rise offer by college employers.

A spokesman for the National Association of Teachers and Higher Education said the offer was the lowest in the public sector.

Today's strike affects 250 colleges.

Pay protest - Vic Little, John Pullen-Appleby, Steve McQuaid, Jan Pope and Carole Favre outside Colchester Institute today. Picture: NIGEL BROWN

Determined pickets in Colchester stood outside the Sheepen Road site.

They are campaigning for a substantial increase to close what they say is a 12 per cent gap between college and school staff.

The spokesman said the union and Unison, whose members are also striking, continued to condemn the Association of Colleges for refusing to reopen pay negotiations.

Kati Vardon, marketing manager for Colchester Institute, said students had been warned there would be a limited service today because of the strike action.

"There will be no lectures today at Colchester but students can use the IT suite and learning suites. Clacton will remain open as normal."

Published Tuesday November 5, 2002

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