Bishop Auckland College slammed over job cuts

The union said the plans were another blow for education in region, which is already reeling from the news that Newcastle College is planning to sack 170 staff.

The union said the cuts 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.
 
The Bishop Auckland UCU branch will meet on Friday to consider its next steps.
 
UCU regional official, Joyce McAndrew, said: 'This is another huge blow for education in the north-east and the last thing our local communities need right now. Bishop Auckland is making the very people redundant whose job it is to retrain the unemployed and help rebuild the economy.
 
'UCU accepts that colleges face tough choices in the current funding environment, but the scale of the cuts are disproportionate and will have a devastating effect on the local economy.'