Picnic protest over job cuts at Warwickshire college
1 July 2009
Strike action on the cards unless North Warwickshire and Hinckley College removes threat of compulsory redundancies.
Members of UCU at the Nuneaton campus of North Warwickshire and Hinckley College are holding a picnic protest at noon tomorrow over proposed job cuts. As a result of reduced funding, the college is seeking to make around 40 staff redundant and in the first instance is seeking voluntary redundancies.
Armed with butties and picnic blankets the union is preparing for a good-natured protest, but with a serious message. At a recent meeting, local UCU members agreed to pursue industrial action if the college moved to compulsory redundancies for teaching staff. The union has warned that Thursday's protest is likely to be the first action in a lengthy campaign to stop any compulsory redundancies.
The college was recently graded 'outstanding' by Ofsted in a report that commended it for being 'highly responsive, effective and with outstanding provision. The union says that any job cuts will seriously damage the college's reputation for excellence and its ability to offer first rate teaching to future students.
Local UCU branch member, Julia Wallis, said: 'The union fully understands the problems the college faces with budgets being tightened. However, this is a nationwide problem, not something exclusive to North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. What we do not understand is the motivation to axe staff, offer a cheapened learning experience for students and seriously damage the college's fine reputation.
'None of the staff want to see industrial action or any disruption, however, the college needs to be aware that Thursday's picnic protest is the start of our campaign. We will not accept any compulsory redundancies at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and strike action remains a serious option.'
Armed with butties and picnic blankets the union is preparing for a good-natured protest, but with a serious message. At a recent meeting, local UCU members agreed to pursue industrial action if the college moved to compulsory redundancies for teaching staff. The union has warned that Thursday's protest is likely to be the first action in a lengthy campaign to stop any compulsory redundancies.
The college was recently graded 'outstanding' by Ofsted in a report that commended it for being 'highly responsive, effective and with outstanding provision. The union says that any job cuts will seriously damage the college's reputation for excellence and its ability to offer first rate teaching to future students.
Local UCU branch member, Julia Wallis, said: 'The union fully understands the problems the college faces with budgets being tightened. However, this is a nationwide problem, not something exclusive to North Warwickshire and Hinckley College. What we do not understand is the motivation to axe staff, offer a cheapened learning experience for students and seriously damage the college's fine reputation.
'None of the staff want to see industrial action or any disruption, however, the college needs to be aware that Thursday's picnic protest is the start of our campaign. We will not accept any compulsory redundancies at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College and strike action remains a serious option.'
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