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The threatened sacking of nearly 600 part-time lecturers at Woolwich and Greenwich Community College has been averted following a pay and conditions deal between management and union leaders.

College managers were planning to replace the lecturers with agency staff if union leaders stuck to a claim for a Pounds 28 hourly pay rate. But Natfhe representatives agreed instead to a 3 per cent pay increase, taking rates up to between Pounds 18 and Pounds 21 per hour.

Lecturers may have to work longer hours in return for keeping their jobs. A "handful" may still be made redundant due to the closure of some courses.