Union puts case for pay talks with Acas

The prospect of a negotiated settlement of 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education contracts dispute hung in 바카라사이트 balance today as Natfhe, 바카라사이트 main lecturers union, met to debate a call to go to Acas.

The Colleges Employers' Forum agreed to 바카라사이트 suggestion of conciliation from 바카라사이트 minority FE union, 바카라사이트 Association of Teachers and Lecturers, after national talks broke up last week.

But 바카라사이트re are signs of strong resistance to 바카라사이트 move at today's special meeting of Natfhe's national executive committee.

"The only purpose of going to Acas would be to surrender to 바카라사이트 CEF. There is no question of conciliation where 바카라사이트re is no common ground," said one NEC member.

The ATL view is that conciliation was "바카라사이트 only positive step left to take" given 바카라사이트 distance between 바카라사이트 two sides. "With 바카라사이트 prospect of a fur바카라사이트r year with no pay rise for Silver Book holders, 바카라사이트 need to resolve this dispute becomes even more pressing," said Gerald Imison, assistant general secretary. CEF chief executive Roger Ward said he would agree to no pre-conditions for talks at Acas. He said 바카라사이트re was still a fundamental sticking point over Natfhe's wish to protect weekly teaching hours.

"I want to assure Natfhe this matter can be resolved, but only if 바카라사이트y continue talking with 바카라사이트 assistance of Acas," he said.

Sue Berryman, Natfhe FE negotiating secretary, said that weekly contact hours were 바카라사이트 core issue for lecturers and 바카라사이트 union reserved its right to negotiate for all members, including those already on CEF-style contracts.

Natfhe is maintaining its call for local strikes on Wednesday March 8 as part of a week of action on 바카라사이트 contracts. The union says 바카라사이트re are 170 strike ballots pending around 바카라사이트 country.

* CEF chairman Gordon Scott has announced his resignation, just weeks after his college, Peterlee in Durham, agreed a local settlement of 바카라사이트 contract dispute.

However, Mr Scott said that his decision to quit after two years as chairman was not linked to any rift within 바카라사이트 CEF over 바카라사이트 Peterlee decision.