Lecturers are concerned about new academic contracts

Lecturers have already staged three walkouts over the past two weeks in protest at restructuring plans.

They say the changes, which could lead to redundancies, would have a serious and damaging effect on the terms and conditions of staff.

College principal Mandy Exley will meet EIS-FELA representatives.

She said: "We have continued to communicate with EIS-FELA representatives throughout the week and are confident that we are coming close to an agreement.

We have done our best to keep disruption to a minimum and all exams are going forward as planned Principal Mandy Exley

"I think we have a shared priority, which is to resolve these issues as quickly as possible so that students face the least amount of disruption."

She added: "We have done our best to keep disruption to a minimum and all exams are going forward as planned.

"After the meeting on Friday afternoon, we will have a better idea about what will happen next week."

Best paid

College lecturers are concerned about new academic contracts and changes to senior lecturing posts.

The college has denied that the new proposals would damage either pay or conditions.

Perth College EIS branch secretary, Bill Meach, insisted the strike was not about pay.

More than 90% of EIS members at the college voted in favour of the action earlier this year.

Management at the college said that a pay deal had been fixed in December which guaranteed that the teaching staff would be among the top 10 best paid in the country.