Kirklees College staff to strike over pay cuts
Staff at Kirklees College are to go on a one-day strike over potential pay cuts and job losses.
The University and College Union (UCU) said almost 60 staff faced pay cuts of between £2,000 and £12,000 and six staff faced losing their jobs.
UCU members have voted for strike action next Thursday.
Vice principal Melanie Brooke said the college was trying to establish what disruption would be caused but said examinations would not be affected.
She said: "Our number one priority is our students. We are currently working to ensure there is no disruption to them at this crucial time of year."
The UCU claimed the college's "mismanagement" of two new buildings meant future earnings had to be used to repay loans.
Julie Kelley, UCU regional officer, said: "Strike action is always a last resort, but there is genuine anger about the way the college has mismanaged recent events.
"Style is never a replacement for substance and fewer teachers with bigger classes and increased workloads are a poor return for new buildings and scant reward for staff who have worked so hard to deliver a glowing Ofsted report."
College principal Peter McCann said: "The college's priority is to continue the excellent quality of provision that students receive at Kirklees College.
"To do this we must have a workforce designed to best meet our student and college needs and which is financially sustainable.
"We have been and will continue to be in regular dialogue with our staff and the trade union representatives.
"We will seek to manage this process as supportively as is possible within the enormous financial constraints we are under."