LECTURERS and managers who have voted to take strike action are to walk out of a North-East college next week.

NATFHE, the union that represents lecturers and managers at Newcastle College, got their ballot result last week - and 78 per cent voted for strike action.

Representatives at the college will strike next Tuesday and have informed the principal. Lecturers are angry that the college has failed to implement a national pay deal and is changing working conditions.

Jon Bryan, NATFHE branch secretary at the college, said: "Not only is the national deal not being implemented, but we are being asked to effectively work an additional two and a half weeks a year as the working week is being increased by six per cent."