Manchester College strike action over job losses
24 June 2009
Members of UCU have overwhelmingly voted for strike action at Manchester College.
Following a ballot where 74% of members polled voted yes to strike action and 84% voted in favour of action short of a strike, the union announced that members will walk out on Wednesday 1 July.
The union is furious that the college, which is a result of a merger last summer between MANCAT and City College Manchester, is pushing ahead with what it describes as 'unnecessary and punitive' job losses. The redundancies would see six jobs go in maths and biology and seven in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
Some of the courses to close include the most basic level ESOL classes and UCU is concerned at the effect this will have on the most vulnerable people in the local community. The union warned today that Wednesday's strike could be the first action in a long campaign to save jobs, if the college refused to back down.
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: 'At a time when we should be looking to extend further education's ability to meet the needs of our communities, Manchester College seems intent of pushing ahead with unnecessary and punitive job cuts. The college should be joining with unions in presenting a case to government to preserve education funding at a time when our communities need it the most, rather than pushing through these irrational job cuts.
'Manchester College is one of the biggest in Europe and should be looking to make full use of the expertise of the staff it has, not axe them when the local community needs them most. Management needs to develop a better relationship with the union. It's in the interests of staff and students for there to be better industrial relations.'
The union is furious that the college, which is a result of a merger last summer between MANCAT and City College Manchester, is pushing ahead with what it describes as 'unnecessary and punitive' job losses. The redundancies would see six jobs go in maths and biology and seven in English for speakers of other languages (ESOL).
Some of the courses to close include the most basic level ESOL classes and UCU is concerned at the effect this will have on the most vulnerable people in the local community. The union warned today that Wednesday's strike could be the first action in a long campaign to save jobs, if the college refused to back down.
UCU head of further education, Barry Lovejoy, said: 'At a time when we should be looking to extend further education's ability to meet the needs of our communities, Manchester College seems intent of pushing ahead with unnecessary and punitive job cuts. The college should be joining with unions in presenting a case to government to preserve education funding at a time when our communities need it the most, rather than pushing through these irrational job cuts.
'Manchester College is one of the biggest in Europe and should be looking to make full use of the expertise of the staff it has, not axe them when the local community needs them most. Management needs to develop a better relationship with the union. It's in the interests of staff and students for there to be better industrial relations.'
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