Staff strike at Manchester College over job losses

Strike rally Pickets will begin from 7.30am at the Welcomb street entrance of the college before moving to the college's Openshaw campus at the Ashton Road entrance for an hour's picket from 8.30am. Protests will continue from 10.30 to 11.45 at Manchester College's Shena Simon campus and culminate in a special rally at the Mechanics Institute on Major Street (see below for directions).

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 about the impact the cuts 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.

Dave Swanson, a UCU member who teaches at the college, said: 'None of the staff wanted to take action but Manchester College seems intent on pushing ahead with these unnecessary and punitive job cuts.  The planned redundancies are bad news for the local community and the last thing Manchester needs.'

Barry Lovejoy, UCU head of further education, said: '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. The union is not looking for a fight and we are keen to work with the college to serve the local community in these tough economic times.'

Protest locations:

• Welcomb Street
• Ashton Road (Openshaw Campus)
• Shena Simon Campus
• Major street (Mechanics Institute)