COLLEGE lecturers across the city boycotted work for a day in a protest over pay.

More than 100 lecturers at York College - including city councillor and staff member Andy D'Agorne - joined the picket line outside the Tadcaster Road site.

It was part of nationwide industrial action over what the protesters say is a wide pay gap between higher education staff and school teachers.

About 30 lecturers were outside York College at 8am yesterday, holding placards and handing out leaflets. Several lecturers at Askham Bryan College also joined in the strike.

The protesting lecturers were members of NAFTHE - the University and College Lecturers' Union, which represents about a third of York College's teaching staff.

The dispute forced the college to send home A-level students for a study day, although it remained open to those on vocational courses.

John Westmoreland, NAFTHE branch negotiator for York College, was one of the protestors on Tadcaster Road yesterday.

Head of history for the college, he earns £26,000 a year - which he said was some £7,000 less than a school teacher doing the same job.

He said: "The Government has no justification for not paying us the amount it would cost them to give us parity with teachers, when they have a limitless amount to spend on the war in Iraq."

The Evening Press reported in February that more than 75 per cent of college lecturers around the country had taken part in a ballot over strike action because they were not awarded pay rises agreed under a national deal.

NAFTHE says when its members are qualified there is little opportunity for salary increases, while a school teacher's salary rises to nearly £34,000.

They say staff at York College get paid 10 per cent less than teachers for doing the same job.

Now the union wants to see a maximum salary of £30,705 for qualified lecturers, with pay progression of up to £34,566 for advanced-level staff.

York College principle Mike Galloway said he regretted the strike action, but sympathised with the union's aims.

Dr Martin Warnes, who teaches a degree course in sustainable land use at Askham Bryan College, was also on strike yesterday.

He said pay was such a problem at the college that one lecturer had resigned and become a supply teacher.

Members of NAFTHE were also in Birmingham lobbying Education Minister Ruth Kelly.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: "Disputes about pay in the further education sector are a matter for the staff and colleges concerned. We hope that any action taken will have a minimal impact on students."

Updated: 10:52 Thursday, November 17, 2005