Manchester College accused of bringing 'embarrassment to city'

UCU today accused Manchester College of 'bringing embarrassment to the city'. Members at UCU's annual congress in Manchester said the college was putting the education of thousands of learners in jeopardy as it looks to make hundreds of job cuts and to force staff on to inferior contracts.
 
Delegates heard how the country's biggest college is planning to make over 200 job cuts to prison education and to implement different contracts for staff working with adults and those working with 14-19-year-olds. A ballot for strike action against the college will close on Friday 11 June.
 
Speaking after the debate, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt said: 'UCU members love Manchester and have been given a very warm welcome as ever. However, the Manchester College has succeeded in bringing embarrassment to a city which has a very proud reputation when it comes to education. Not only is it looking to slash jobs in vital education services, like prison education, it is also trying to force hundreds of staff on to inferior terms and conditions.
 
'The country's biggest college should be an exemplar of good practice. Instead it is letting down the further education sector and is threatening the education of thousands of learners.'
 
Full details of UCU Congress can be found at UCU Congress 2010. This release covers FE motions 25 -26.