A PORTER revealed today he will be forced out of his job at the University of York by new working rotas.

Bryan Ransome spoke out after The Press revealed yesterday that about 70 to 80 porters and security staff had been given 90 days' notice of new contracts.

Unions said the changes included a requirement to work flexibly, day or night, and this had particularly upset some workers. One worker said members of staff were facing a "complete change of lifestyle."

Mr Ransome said today he had only worked day shifts since starting work more three years ago at Heslington Hall. He would be required, under the new contract, to work nights as well. "I cannot do that," he said. "I'm 63 and live down at South Milford and cannot leave my wife behind there all night.

"I have accepted I will have to leave. I am the only porter that only works days, from 8am until 4.30pm."

He said he had only decided to speak out after reading claims in The Press last night that the university would try to help staff who had genuine difficulties in adjusting to the changes.

A university spokesman said then: "For those staff facing genuine difficulties in making the adjustments, but who are prepared to be flexible, the university will try to find a mutually acceptable solution."

But Mr Ransome claimed: "That just isn't true. I face a genuine difficulty and they are making no attempt to find a mutually acceptable solution. They haven't tried at all."

He criticised what he claimed was the "threatening tone" of a letter he had received from personnel director Ged Murray, in which he was invited to return a pro forma agreeing to a voluntary change in his contract by this Friday.

Mr Murray said: "If you are not willing to agree to a voluntary change in your contract the university gives you formal notice of a unilateral change in your working arrangements."

He warned that if staff were unwilling or unable to work in accordance with a new rota from November 19, the university would deal with such situations "in accordance with its statutory obligations".

He also stressed that most staff would benefit from the changes overall, including an increase in hourly rates of pay, a shorter working week and additional holidays.

A university spokesman declined to comment on Mr Ransome's claims, but said it accepted that some members of staff might well have difficulties in accepting the new contracts, "and we would encourage them to talk to us to try to come to a mutually acceptable solution".