LECTURERS at Southampton City College have been told that they face the sack if they refuse to sign up to a new pay structure.

If members of NATFHE , The University and College Lecturers' Union, do not agree with the new pay deal their existing contract will be terminated by the college from June 30.

Union leaders say the pay deal is less favourable than a national pay structure reached between college employers - the Association of Colleges, and trade unions.

They had been hoping for a new pay scale rewarding experience and offering a three per cent cost of living pay rise agreed at national level.

This would have seen wages rise by six per cent over two years.

However, Southampton City College is proposing a new pay scale based on whether lecturers are graded key, effective or unsatisfactory.

Mary Cooper, NATFHE regional official in the south-east said: "The principal has set her own pay scales which do not bear any resemblance to the nationally agreed pay scales.

"There is absolutely nothing in this for lecturers."

However Southampton City College principal and chief executive Lindsey Noble said the new system was not simply a performance related scheme.

She said: "The new scheme recognises individual personal and professional development, flexibility and responsiveness and commitment to the college's values, in addition to achievement of work targets.

"It is not simply a performance related scheme. Staff across the college, both teaching and support staff, have been involved in the process of developing the new scheme.

"This is the probably the reason the scheme has the support of the vast majority of staff."

Unions insist the college's pay scale means a qualified lecturer without any extra responsibility would earn between £19,060 and £24,520 as opposed to the national pay agreement which would see them earn between £20,283 and £30,705.

However Ms Noble denied this was the case. "The salary scale goes up to £28,000 not £24,000. We have only got about 24 people who have not signed up to the scheme out of about 420.

"Most staff in the college are quite satisfied."

She added that the college could not commit itself to the Association of College's pay structure when it could not afford it in the long run.