STRIKE action is still looming at a troubled city academy after union bosses were accused of refusing to negotiate through independent arbitration.

Members of the NASUWT at Unity City Academy, in Middlesbrough, voted for walkouts over proposed job losses and changes to pay and conditions.

The chairman of the Academy Trust, Joe McCarthy, said the union was unwilling to involve Acas in discussions to settle the dispute.

Mr McCarthy said the union's actions were damaging the children's education.

He said "I really do find the position being taken by the union completely baffling. They conducted the ballot on the issue of potential redundancies.

"We have now told them in clear terms that no member of staff will be made compulsorily redundant as a result of the post reductions.

"This is a dispute about issues which, in reality, do not exist - no compulsory redundancies and no imposed changes in working arrangements.

"I really do wonder how, given all the steps we have taken to meet their concerns, the NASUWT can possibly justify threatening disruption at such a critical time for everyone connected with the academy, including both our staff and students."

But the union's general secretary, Chris Keates, has criticised school bosses for not giving them the opportunity to fully respond to the request to use Acas.

He said: "Serious consideration was given to the content of a letter from the chairman of governors, including the reference to Acas.

"Before we had chance to respond, we were astonished to be contacted by Acas who had been eng- aged unilaterally by the academy.

"It is evident that in taking a decision in this way, the academy's concept of meaningful, genuine consultation and conciliation is seriously flawed."

He added: "I have written indicating a willingness to meet.

"The dates offered predate the proposed strike action demonstrating a continuing and genuine desire on the part of NASUWT to seek to resolve this matter."