Case gives lecturers right to holiday pay

David Evans, general secretary of the Lecturers' Employment Action Fellowship, has claimed that a landmark employment tribunal in London, the case of Ralton v Havering College, looks set to do away with "new" contracts in further education. Mr Evans said it had been conceded that the transfer of lecturers' employment from local education authorities to further education corporations was protected under the Acquired Rights Directive. Colleges were legally "emanations of the state" and their employees were therefore further protected. Mr Evans said there were thousands of lecturers in further education who were not paid during the holidays because their contracts covered only term time. He said the case had already established that such lecturers are not only entitled to holiday pay but can claim payments in arrears since 1996.