STRIKING college lecturers have sacrificed six days' Christmas pay in their stand against bosses’ plans to rip up their contracts.

Lambeth College lecturers walked out again yesterday in a dispute over contracts that will leave many with worse pay and conditions.

Despite the costs, they’re now preparing for all-out action and have had a massive £2,000 donated to their fighting fund by supporters and fellow trade unionists.

Lambeth College UCU branch chairman David Esterson told the Star: “People in the union branch know it’s a sacrifice now that is best to be made to defend ourselves for the future.

“Because we might lose something now but if we don’t fight then we will lose a lot.

“Not just us but the other staff here and the local community in terms of their education provision.”

Confirming the popularity of the Lambeth dispute among fellow educators, the biggest contributions to the strike fund came from other lecturers.

City and Islington College collected £550 after a Lambeth solidarity public meeting.

And, according to an announcement at yesterday’s rally, Oxford Brookes University UCU branch handed over a cheque for a whopping £1,000.

Also at the rally was socialist comedian and Lambeth local of 33 years Jeremy Hardy.

“This area has plenty of private schools. If people want to go and run education as a business there are plenty of private schools they can go and run,” said Mr Hardy.

“Community colleges and state schools are not about that.”

Yesterday’s strike action was the last of a series of escalating walkouts at Lambeth College before the Christmas break.

UCU members vowed to come back for another five days of strike in the new year before walking out indefinitely if management refuses to negotiate.

Highlighting the need to continue their fight against cuts to sick pay and longer working hours, Mr Esterson added: “All the evidence shows that when people don’t resist things get worse and worse and worse.

“From our point of view it’s an absolutely necessary struggle to fight for our rights as workers.”

“It will make us better off in the long term and of course defends education.”