College lecturers have dismissed an improved pay offer of 2.3%, saying an "autumn of discontent" lies ahead for the further education sector.

Last month members of the lecturers' union Natfhe walked out on a two-day strike in protest at an "insulting" 1.5% offer from the Association of Colleges (AoC).

2.3% is really as far as we can go - it will stretch the colleges

Ivor Jones, Association of Colleges

But the improved offer has done little to quell discontent in the sector, with Natfhe members likely to take more industrial action in the autumn.

The union has long campaigned for better pay for FE lecturers, saying their salaries fall well behind those of school teachers.

Natfhe says the average starting salary for a lecturer is �13,745, rising to �25,000 at the top of the scale.

But teachers - following a 3.5% pay rise announced in January - can expect to start on a salary of �17,628, with most earning �25,746.

Natfhe and other unions were meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss their action in response to the offer.

'Line of insults'

Natfhe's senior negotiator Barry Lovejoy said: "This is the latest in a line of insults - a 1.5% offer, a cancelled negotiating meeting, and now 2.3%, an offer worth less than half that given to school teachers and below that on which local government workers are balloting on strikes."

"Our members went on strike for two days over the first offer - this one will just raise their anger."

The union's general secretary, Paul Mackney, said the Education Secretary, Estelle Morris, should take responsibility for the crisis.

"Government, the Learning and Skills Council and the employers all say the pay gap with schools should be closed but no-one will take responsibility," he said.

'As far as we can go'

The AoC said it was disappointed at Natfhe's stance.

"2.3% is really as far as we can go - it will stretch the colleges," said Ivor Jones, director of employment policy.

"The offer is based on what our members say they can afford, especially when you take into account the inflationary costs facing colleges, such as pension and national insurance contributions.

"We don't want to see any disruption to students education and we want to avoid any further action," said Mr Jones.

The AoC had put in a bid to the government for an extra 500m funding for the sector, ahead of the comprehensive spending review next month, he added.