Staff at college campuses around the county are threatening to go on strike after a decade without a pay increase.

Workers at North Kent College, which has campuses in Tonbridge, Dartford and Gravesend, and Hadlow have been ballotted by their union after claims the college principal had accepted a £20,000 pay rise, while his staff received no bonus for the 11th year running.

University and College Union (UCU) sent a letter to all staff on Friday asking them to vote on strike action.

The union is demanding urgent action is taken to ensure the staff at the college’s three campuses see their pay increase to help them meet soaring levels of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

It is in dispute with the employer over a pay offer this year, which comes after ten years without any pay increase, and is worth just 3% for lecturers at the top of the pay spine.

Unless the offer is “significantly improved” the UCU says it will run a strike ballot.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “North Kent College staff are furious that principal David Gleed has awarded himself a pay rise bigger than some of his employees' total salary.

“It is clearly unacceptable that whilst he and his senior team rake it in those who do the work of enrolling, teaching and supporting learners that led to these results have not received a consolidated pay rise for a decade.

“Our members are being pushed into poverty and we are ready to launch a ballot for strike action unless Mr Gleed starts paying his staff fairly.”

One former employee, who did not want to be named, said: “I am absolutely appalled at the duplicitious way staff have been treated in relation to their pay.”

North Kent College has been asked to comment on the claims made by the union.