TODAY'S planned strike by lecturers at Accrington and Rossendale College was blocked at the eleventh hour by a High Court injunction.

A postal ballot in which NATFHE members voted two-to-one in favour of strike action was declared invalid by a judge at the High Court in London late yesterday.

The union advised lecturers to go into work as normal but has vowed to fight on in a dispute over the introduction of new working conditions for part-time lecturers.

The NATFHE branch may consider a new strike ballot if it cannot reach a negotiated settlement.

A union spokesman said: "We are sad and angry the college resorted to the courts. "It must have been very expensive to have a barrister for a full day at the High Court. The college could have spent that money far better on investing in the education of students."

He said NATFHE had made every effort to comply with every legal requirement during the balloting process.

"We will be holding a meeting as soon as we can get a full report of what happened in the High Court," he added.

College principal Michael Austin said the judge had described the process NATFHE went through as "a catalogue of errors."

He said: "I don't think anyone wants to involve the law if they can avoid doing so.

"However, the intention behind the ballot was clearly to cause difficulties during inspection week. No such difficulties will now occur and we can get on with the proper business of the college.

"What most people want to see is life continuing as usual with lecturers in front of classes, students learning and going towards qualifications and that is happening."

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