Staff vote to strike at Sheffield College
7 April 2011
Members of UCU at Sheffield College have today voted to strike in their fight to save jobs.
Over four-fifths of members (84%) who voted, supported strike action. The college has presented the union with plans for 120 redundancies, half of which will be teaching posts.
The union has accused senior management of 'jumping the gun' and using the current funding difficulties in further education as an excuse to make cuts. UCU said the plans would have a devastating effect on the local economy, which has already seen a large increase in unemployment, and make it harder for the region to recover from the recession.
UCU said it remained committed to finding a negotiated settlement but said the college's refusal to enter in to meaningful negotiations with the union, had left its members with little option but to take strike action.
UCU regional official, Julie Kelley, said: 'Today's result shows the strength of feeling against the job cuts here at Sheffield College. Management has decided to make redundant the very people whose job it is to retrain the unemployed and help rebuild the economy.
'We are not blind to the troubles facing the further education sector. However, we believe the college is jumping the gun and putting at risk the education of the very communities it is there to serve. Strike action is always a last resort and we remain committed to find a negotiated settlement, however, the college's current intransigence has left our members with little option.'
The union has accused senior management of 'jumping the gun' and using the current funding difficulties in further education as an excuse to make cuts. UCU said the plans would have a devastating effect on the local economy, which has already seen a large increase in unemployment, and make it harder for the region to recover from the recession.
UCU said it remained committed to finding a negotiated settlement but said the college's refusal to enter in to meaningful negotiations with the union, had left its members with little option but to take strike action.
UCU regional official, Julie Kelley, said: 'Today's result shows the strength of feeling against the job cuts here at Sheffield College. Management has decided to make redundant the very people whose job it is to retrain the unemployed and help rebuild the economy.
'We are not blind to the troubles facing the further education sector. However, we believe the college is jumping the gun and putting at risk the education of the very communities it is there to serve. Strike action is always a last resort and we remain committed to find a negotiated settlement, however, the college's current intransigence has left our members with little option.'
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