NI colleges: UCU criticises plan to axe up to 300 college jobs

Five further education colleges have informed the union of their intention to cut jobs

A union representing further education (FE) lecturers in Northern Ireland has questioned the legality of hundreds of proposed redundancies.

BBC News NI understands up to 300 positions are to be axed due to budgetary pressures.

Five out of six FE colleges have notified the University and College Union (UCU) of their intention to cut jobs.

The UCU has said the redundancy notices are not legislatively compliant.

It is understood college employers are hoping to complete the redundancy process on a voluntary basis.

There are more than 50,000 students taking hundreds of different courses at Northern Ireland's six FE colleges.

Following this year's budget, the Department for the Economy (DfE) - which oversees further education in Northern Ireland - has said its overall "resource spending power" had been reduced by £130m.

This has led to a £9m reduction in 2023/24 further education funding and the sector faces a funding gap of £35m in terms of future expenditure requirements for 2024/25.

'No possibility of avoiding dismissals'

"Under the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 the definition of a redundancy is where there is a cessation or diminution for work of a particular kind," the union said.

Katharine Clarke said the UCU believes job cuts are to meet "unrealistic" cost-cutting demands

The UCU told BBC News NI that colleges proposing redundancies have not been able to evidence a reduction in business need.

"The real reason for axing jobs isn't because the work is no longer there, but to satisfy unreasonable and unrealistic demands by the Department for the Economy for cost-cutting," the UCU's Northern Ireland official Katharine Clarke said.

"Instructions by those offices for college employers to contrive dismissals do not appear to have a lawful basis," Ms Clarke said.

• College proposes redundancies over cash pressures

• FE colleges 'could face horrific funding cuts'

"The very fact college employers reference a £9m cut to the sector budget for this year and the intention to open expressions of interest before consultation has been exhausted, demonstrates there's no real possibility of avoiding the dismissals," she added.

"The UCU has very real concerns that the DfE is forcing employers to act contrary to legislation which is likely to result in legal action being brought by the trade unions."

Significant pressure

DfE has said the further education sector is experiencing "significant budget pressures".

The department said it will consider redundancy proposals "which deliver a proportionate and sustainable reduction in costs".

A spokesperson for the department said it is for FE colleges' governing bodies, as the relevant employers, to ensure that actions in respect of proposals comply with all legal requirements.

"FE colleges are consulting with stakeholders, including staff, and will seek departmental approval as appropriate," they added.

Belfast Met is among the colleges to have informed the UCU of job cuts

The College Principals' Group has said colleges have commenced the consultation process with the trade unions and are "providing responses to information requests as part of an open and transparent engagement".

"Following the consultation process, the scheme will be finalised, taking into consideration feedback from interested parties," a spokesperson said.

"Each college as the employer will apply the scheme in line with its own criteria. In line with our legal obligations, colleges will consult with trade unions and while this process is ongoing we will not be making further comment."