Anger at job loss plans for Stockport College and Trafford College

• Union says plans to put gas and plumbing roles at risk of redundancy is at odds with region’s construction boom
• 50 jobs threatened with 26 academic jobs at risk across sites in Altrincham, Stretford and Stockport
• News comes just a year after merger that was supposed to bring stability

The University and College Union (UCU) has reacted angrily to news of plans to axe 50 staff at Stockport College and Trafford College. Staff at all three sites in Altrincham, Stretford, and Stockport face redundancy, with 26 teaching jobs at risk.

The union, which represents teachers at the college, said it was surprised to see 26 teaching jobs at risk in areas such as English, maths, gas and plumbing considering the demand for people to take those classes and the region’s construction boom.

The news comes less than a year after the merger of Stockport and Trafford colleges, which was supposed to bring stability. At the time the college said the move would “create a single, larger and more sustainable college better able to meet the current and future needs of students, employers and the local community.”

The union said its members would be meeting next week to discuss the news and how to respond.

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said: ‘Less than a year on from a merger the college said would bring stability and allow it to better serve students, businesses and the local community it is announcing plans to scrap jobs.

‘There is no rationale for axing jobs in areas like English, maths, gas and plumbing and the move appears to be directly at odds with what the students, businesses and the local community actually need.

‘UCU will resist any compulsory redundancies amongst our members and we will be meeting in the coming days to discuss this news and how best to respond to it.’