Author backs teachers
The children’s author Michael Rosen has described the proposed job cuts at Chichester College as ‘unbelievable and wrong’.
Chichester College UCU members have voted unanimously in favour of declaring a dispute with the college.
The equivalent of ten full-time jobs are at risk across English and maths departments which would reduce current staff numbers from 25 to 15 across the Chichester and Brinsbury campuses, the union has said. No other campuses are believed to be affected.
Chichester College Group said ‘significant challenges’ meant it had to seek savings and efficiencies but said it was consulting with staff and if redundancies were made, it would work ‘very hard’ to redeploy staff.
At a union meeting on Friday, members voted unanimously in favour of declaring an official dispute with the college, a spokesman said. The union will move next to a consultative ballot. UCU members will then decide the next steps which could include strike action.
Chris Hartley, chair of
Chichester College UCU, said: “The solid vote to declare a dispute and for a move towards a consultative ballot shows the strength of feeling.
“The conviction that staff believe to make cuts to maths and English will be a disservice to students and of their determination to do whatever it takes to prevent these vital staff from losing their jobs during a global pandemic.”
Children’s author Michael Rosen said the planned cuts seemed ‘unbelievabe and wrong’, adding: “As a matter of urgency, I urge the authorities at Chichester College to retain all staff working in the English and maths departments. I support staff at the college doing what they can to keep these jobs on the roll.”