The University and College Lecturers' Union NATFHE is angry at the college's "failure to implement a nationally agreed pay scale".

They also claim that the working week is to rise from 35 to 37 hours.

The college maintains it has done everything possible to improve lecturer pay, while trying to ensure the financial future of the college.

The union has already balloted for industrial action and has warned it plans to launch a series of one-day strikes throughout May.

Working conditions

Newcastle branch secretary of the union, Jon Bryan, said: "Staff at the college continue to be angry with the increases in teaching and the working week that would put the college out on limb.

"Our current working conditions are broadly similar to other colleges in the North East, but what is being proposed would make us the college with the worst set of conditions in the country.

"We achieved a 78% vote for strike action in February and we had hoped that the feelings and actions of our members would have been listened to."

The college says it has done more than many others in the country to respond to nationally agreed pay.

It said it had already implemented an agreed 3% pay offer to college staff.