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As a lecturer at Westminster University, I was dismayed to see that representatives of Westminster Students' Union have taken a stand at odds with the National Union of Students ("Strike a blow for the small fry", January ).

In demanding a 20 per cent pay rise, lecturers' unions are not engaging in "political posturing" but falling into line with a cross-party consensus that recognises the appallingly low level of academics' pay.

Surely student need is best served by making sure that the demoralising pittance that academics receive is replaced by a realistic and deserved level of remuneration.

Tom Corby
Westminster University