Lecturers and academic managers from Barnet College will join a citywide strike today to call for fair pay.

The strikers, from the University and College Union (UCU), are demanding six per cent, or £1,500, to close the pay gap with school teachers.

UCU Barnet representative David Armstrong said: "Our members are subjected to constant increases in workloads. In return staff have been given sub-inflation pay rises for the last three years. In addition we still lag about six per cent behind schoolteachers' salaries.

"The current offer of 2.5 per cent is totally unacceptable and in no way allows our members even to keep up with rising prices.

"We expect a strong response to the call for strike action."

Bill Rammell, minister of state for lifelong learning, further and higher education, said: "It is disappointing that college staff are taking this further action before the current round of pay negotiations have concluded.

"Over the past ten years this Government's investment in the FE sector has increased by 52 per cent in real terms.

"I would urge the University and College Union and the Association of Colleges to continue to reach a negotiated settlement to ensure that students' learning is not disrupted further."

Pickets will meet from 8am to 11am at college sites in Wood Street, High Barnet; North London Business Park, Oakleigh Road South; and Grahame Park Way, Hendon.