BY DAVID BROWN

Lecturers and office staff at one of LondonÍs largest colleges are threatening to strike after bosses said they still donÍt know if they can afford last yearÍs pay rises.

Harrow College has admitted it may make a loss in its first year since being created following the merger of Greenhill and Weald colleges.

Members of the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education are 71 per cent in favour of strike action and 92 per cent support action short of a walk-out.

Unison members voted three-to-one in favour of strike action.

A last-ditch appeal for a pay rise to avert a strike will be made by union officials to college governors at a meeting on Tuesday next week.

The Association of Colleges has recommended a three per cent pay rise for staff in August last year ,, although the advice is not binding.

ñThe governors keep on deferring a decision, saying they are not sure the college finances can afford a pay rise,î said a NATFHE official. ñWe have asked for an independent audit of the accounts to see what the situation is.

ñThe general feeling of the members is there has been mismanagement of the merging of the colleges which has led to this situation. We are totally fed up with the management, it has got to get its act together. We donÍt want strike action, it is the last resort.î

Bosses admit the college, which has 3,500 full-time and 12,000 part-time students studying a variety of subjects at campuses in Lowlands Road, Harrow, and Brookshill, Harrow Weald, may be heading for a loss this year.

ñThe college is not in deficit but there may be a running deficit this year because of the costs around the merger,î admitted a spokeswoman.

ñGovernors have not made a final decision on the pay award and will not announce their decision until after the staffing review is complete,î said a college statement.

ñHowever, they appreciate the huge contribution that staff make and that annual pay rises are an important recognition of this.'