Staff vote to strike at South Tyneside College

Over four-fifths (85%) of members who voted, supported strike action against plans that would put 200 jobs at risk and see some lecturers lose as much as £11,000 from their annual salary. The UCU branch at South Tyneside will now decide upon a strike date.
 
UCU members have been backed in their dispute by the local community, with 84% supporting their action in a poll by the Shields Gazette.
 
The union said it was still hopeful a negotiated settlement could be reached, but said it would not accept compulsory redundancies and downgrading on such a large scale. The ballot comes just months after 38 staff accepted voluntary redundancy. In addition, 38 posts were lost last summer.
 
UCU said the plans were yet more bad news for education in the north-east. Elsewhere in the region, Newcastle College and Bishop Auckland College have announced plans for mass redundancies between them.
 
UCU regional support official, Jon Bryan, said: 'Today's result shows the strength of feeling amongst our members against these proposals. They are furious at the college's attacks on their jobs and pay, and their students' education.
 
'These plans are the last thing the region needs right now and will stop the college from meeting the needs of the communities it is here to serve.  We are not blind to the troubles facing further education and still want to find a negotiated settlement. However, we will not simply accept fewer jobs and less pay.'