PICKETING lecturers today launched a two-day strike at York College.

The action is part of a national protest by the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education.

The timing was criticised by college bosses because it coincides with final exam preparations.

But union members said they had been forced to act by Government policies which give them worse working conditions than teachers in schools.

A lecturer and union member, who asked not to be named, said: "Sixth forms at schools get £1,000 more funding per student than a sixth form college gets, and a teacher in a school with a sixth form get £6,000 to £7,000 more than a teacher in a college.

"Our argument is not with the college, which has tried its best to put pressure on central Government and the Learning and Skills Council.

"This situation just can't continue if we are to meet educational objectives. Of course we do not want the students to suffer because of this action, but they are suffering already because they go to a sixth form college rather than a school, and we need to ask how long can that go on?"

Bob Baird, chairman of the Association of Colleges in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: "The strike action is premature.

"The association has been working closely with all the trade unions and student representatives in an unprecedented united front to lobby chancellor Gordon Brown in advance of this summer's spending review.

"Lecturers teaching students in colleges are just as dedicated and successful as those teaching in schools but they now earn less, and the situation is set to worsen."

Peter Roberts, deputy principal of the college, said: "All scheduled examinations are going ahead as normal and will not be affected."

He said the majority of college tutors were not members of NATFHE and would not be taking part in the strike.

Updated: 11:13 Tuesday, May 28, 2002