UNIONS from four East Lancashire colleges have joined forces to fight for more cash for higher education - and urge their bosses to stop rowing with each other.

National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education members from Blackburn, Accrington and Rossendale, Nelson and Colne and Burnley colleges say everyone should be working together and not be competing like private businesses. A joint statement said: "We want to alert the public to the ongoing attack on the quality and standards of education and training available in the communities we serve. "All of our colleges are in crisis due to relentless cuts in government funding and the ludicrous attempt to make colleges compete like private businesses.

"Lecturers are sick of being told by principals and senior managers that other local colleges are the enemy.

"We find the almost gleeful response of these managers to cuts in neighbouring colleges' provision deeply offensive."

The statement adds: "As lecturers, we are committed to education and the best possible standards in all our colleges and for every community.

"We view lecturers at other colleges as colleagues not competitors."

The branch officers are now joining the national NATHFE campaign to secure funding for further education.

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