Blackburn College is planning to cut 41 jobs and 155 posts are at risk of redundancy, according to the University and College Union (UCU). The union said the college’s plans would be “a disaster for staff and students”.

The UCU added that staff were still reeling from a “badly handled redundancy exercise” last summer, which had increased workload for staff.

The college has entered into a consultation on the plans, but the union is calling on its management to reconsider. 

‘Struggling to function’

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: “Only four months on from a badly handled redundancy exercise that left Blackburn College underresourced and struggling to function effectively, the college has announced plans that put another 155 staff at risk of redundancy in the run-up to Christmas.

“At a time when staff and students should be focused on teaching and learning, the college is again looking to squeeze its overworked teaching staff to cover up a lack of leadership from a changing management team.

“Blackburn College needs to recognise that staff are already at breaking point. Further cuts would be a disaster for staff and students, and only serve to increase already unmanageable workloads. The UCU will oppose compulsory redundancies, and calls on the college to urgently rethink these damaging plans.”

‘Increasing financial pressure’

Graham Towse, interim principal and chief executive at Blackburn College, said, like all providers, the college was under “increasing financial pressure to operate in a more efficient manner with a focus upon delivering outcomes linked to income”.

He added: “As such, Blackburn College initiated a collective consultation process on Monday 26 November 2018, which will run until Thursday 10 January 2019, to consult on a number of restructures in some key areas. This proposal will result in the loss of some job roles - around 3 per cent of Blackburn College’s full-time-equivalent staffing levels.

“We will do all we can to prevent any compulsory redundancies and, as part of the consultation process, will be introducing a voluntary severance scheme, available to staff affected. The college is committed to working collaboratively and constructively with trade union representatives and staff to build a more sustainable future, while dealing with these immediate challenges.”