Staff to protest against job cuts at Croydon College

The demonstration, which has been organised by members of UCU, will begin at 1pm outside the college's main entrance on College Road. 
 
The union warned today that planned cuts would have a devastating impact on the local community. UCU said that at a time of high unemployment, Croydon desperately needed investment in education to give people on the dole the best chance of learning the new skills they need to transform their lives.
 
Today's rally has been timed to coincide with a national day of protests by UCU members against job losses and funding cuts in further and higher education. Staff are on strike at 11 further education colleges and two universities in London*. There are protests similar to Croydon's at colleges across the country and staff are also on strike at the University of Sussex.
 
Croydon College UCU rep, Mark El-Kadhi, said: 'Croydon College contributes a huge amount to the local community providing courses for people of all ages and backgrounds. Cuts to provision will have a devastating impact on the local area. At a time of such high unemployment, what Croydon desperately needs is more educational opportunities.'
 
UCU regional official, June Cook, said: 'We understand the financial pressure that colleges like Croydon are under at the moment but making wholesale cuts is not the answer and will come back to haunt the college in the long-term.'

* The two London universities are King's College and University of Westminster. The 11 colleges are:
Barnet College
City and Islington College
College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London
College of North West London
Greenwich Community College
Hackney Community College
Lambeth College
Lewisham College
Richmond Upon Thames College
Tower Hamlets College
Westminster Kingsway College