Yeovil set to strike

LECTURERS at Yeovil College have passed a vote of no confidence in principal Richard Atkins and are set to strike over new contracts.

Natfhe members are angry at the imposition of the contracts by Mr Atkins. They replace those signed by staff after incorporation and mean an average increase in teaching and student contact time of two hours a week. For some it could mean an extra five hours teaching. The working week stays fixed at 37 hours.

Mr Atkins said that the changes were necessary to tackle the college's Pounds 1 million historic deficit, compounded by a Pounds 400,000 funding cut for 1997/98.