Staff threaten strike ballot to fight job losses at Mid Cheshire College

The Northwich college has said it expects 30 staff to be made redundant but has not said in which areas the axe will fall. The union said the uncertainty was unfair on staff, especially as the college says it expects to lose all the staff by the end of July.

At a union meeting last week UCU members back a motion that called on the college to consider other ways to make savings that would not result in compulsory redundancies. The union also highlighted the fact that Mid Cheshire College has £3m in reserve funds and should be doing all it can to protect educational opportunities for people in Northwich.

The college is blaming government cuts for the job cull, but UCU said the college had to avoid knee-jerk cuts to staff and services and encouraged the college's bosses to meet to discuss alternatives.

UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'It is true that government cuts are making life difficult for colleges at the moment. However, the last thing we need is knee-jerk reactions which see staff lose their jobs and courses potentially shut down.

'It's a tough world out there and people need to know their local college is on their side and can still provide vital educational opportunities to help them get on. With £3m in the bank, we would urge Mid Cheshire College to sit down with us and talk through any problems.

'Staff at the college have made it clear that they will fight any plans for compulsory redundancies.'