Strike could leave Southport students without teachers

Southport Students who study at Hugh Baird college could face a new year without any teachers after staff voted to strike.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Hugh Baird College have voted for industrial action in a row over pay.

All staff (100%) polled said they backed strikes. Staff at the college look set to join a second wave of strikes at colleges in England in the new year.

Six colleges took part in the first wave last month. UCU members at nine other colleges, as well as at Hugh Baird, have backed strikes in ballots that closed today.

The union said it will be meeting as soon as possible to discuss next steps in the campaign.

The dispute centres on the failure of college bosses to make a decent pay offer to staff who have seen their pay decline by 25% over the last decade.