News Flash - Union unrest over pay and conditions

DONCASTER College lecturers union officials today reported a surge of membership for today's strike over a long-standing pay row.

Officials at the borough's branch of the University and College Union said they had seen a rush of online membership applications ahead of today's one-day strike by hundreds of lecturers. But the college has pledged to carry on as normal despite the lecturers' action. The union accuses the college of refusing to honour a national pay deal thrashed out in 2004, describing it as one of the "longest IOUs" in the history of industrial relations.Pickets were today out at the main college Hub building at the Waterfront and at the college's High Melton site, collecting signatures on a petition. A rally was planned for the Waterfront site at midday. Doncaster branch secretary Rod Challis described the strike as solid.He said: "Everyone has had enough. The thing about it, is we're not in it for the money, but this is a pay offer that dates back to 2004, and we've still not seen it yet. It just illustrates the scant regard the management has held for the staff