Acas promotes contract talks at Yeovil

Talks have reopened between lecturers and managers at Yeovil College raising hopes that a strike over new contracts can be avoided. Both sides have agreed to further talks brokered by the Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service. But lecturers' union Natfhe says it will proceed with a strike ballot even though it may not act on the result. Lecturers are angry at the management's attempt to impose contracts which would increase teaching time and could link pay rises to staff appraisal. Natfhe members have passed a vote of no confidence in principal Richard Atkins.