Three lecturers were reinstated by Northumbria University this week

* Three lecturers were reinstated by Northumbria University this week after colleagues threatened strike action, writes Alan Thomson.

The modern languages lecturers were all on fixed-term contracts and had signed clauses waiving their rights to industrial tribunal and redundancy pay. Redundancy notices were sent to them after the personnel department decided their contracts would not be renewed.

Lecturers' union Natfhe and university managers reached an agreement that will see the lecturers continue in their jobs while negotiations on ending the use of fixed-term contracts take place.