Sinn Féin’s Further and Higher Education Spokesperson has called for a resolution to the dispute which has seen come Further Education Lecturers take strike action today.

 John O’Dowd said:

“In my experience workers do not withdraw their labour unless they sincerely feel all other options have been exhausted.

“While the Economy Minister Diane Dodds says she has no role in resolving the dispute her letter to the Economy Committee is not the tone required to build an atmosphere within which the dispute can be resolved.

“If as the Minister says she has no role to play in resolving the dispute then perhaps a more constructive tone could in itself help the atmosphere of the negotiations.

“I will be meeting with representatives of the Union involved next week and will also seek to meet the representatives from the Colleges as well to seek clarity on what mechanisms are being deployed to end this dispute.”