Staff & students rally to defend jobs at Working Men's College

UCU members organised the rally to coincide with a meeting of the college's governors, who are threatening to cut staff and student provision. Nineteen jobs have been placed at risk just weeks before the start of the new academic year as a direct consequence of funding cuts.

WMC, one of Europe's oldest adult education institutions, is in the constituency of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The college plays a critical role in delivering essential education and skills to local communities, where demand for lifelong learning remains high.

Under the threatened cuts, staff roles across curriculum, support services, library, and management information systems are earmarked for redundancy. According to the college, the restructure is driven by a combination of a projected £500k deficit and an unsustainable staff-to-income ratio. The situation has been exacerbated by recent funding reductions of 6% (DfE) and 3.3% (GLA).

The rally aims to draw attention to the human and educational cost of these decisions and to call on government, local representatives, and the college's leadership to reconsider the impact of these cuts on the college's future and its community.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'WMC has stood as a beacon of adult learning for over 170 years. Slashing staff and services in response to short-sighted funding decisions will do lasting harm to local people who rely on the college for second chances, upskilling, and social connection.

'We need investment, not cuts. Our members are fighting for their jobs and the future of adult education in Camden and beyond.'