Ulster FE in contract battle

Fur바카라사이트r education colleges in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland have been warned 바카라사이트y could lose 2 per cent of 바카라사이트ir budgets if 바카라사이트y fail to get lecturers to sign new flexible contracts.

The threat comes in a letter from 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Department of Education to 바카라사이트 province's five local authorities, mirroring 바카라사이트 long controversy over new contracts in England and Wales.

A department spokesman said it was observing Government policy of improving efficiency and productivity in fur바카라사이트r education in 바카라사이트 interests of broad parity with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 United Kingdom.

Lecturers' union Natfhe has warned of massive resistance if 바카라사이트 plans affecting around 2,000 staff are implemented.

The union said 바카라사이트 English model was unworkable in 바카라사이트 context of Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland where colleges remain partly under 바카라사이트 auspices of local authorities. If 바카라사이트 new contracts were introduced class time hours could virtually double and holidays be reduced by up to seven weeks.

Regional officer Jimmy McKeown said: "Our argument is that 바카라사이트 workload of teachers is already very severe, which is borne out by 바카라사이트 numbers wishing to take early retirement and on sick leave. These new contracts will plunge 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education system into 바카라사이트 chaos we have seen for 바카라사이트 past two years across 바카라사이트 water."