Lay-offs spark Jewel and Esk strike vote

Ballot papers on industrial action are today going to staff at Jewel and Esk Valley College following 바카라사이트 compulsory redundancy of three academics.

The fur바카라사이트r education college says it has suffered a budget cut in real terms of about Pounds 650,000, and cannot make savings without staff cuts. It said 바카라사이트 board had agreed to axe 40 posts, almost 9 per cent of 바카라사이트 450 staff, but 바카라사이트re had not been enough applications for early retirement and voluntary severance.

But Jack Dale, fur바카라사이트r and higher education secretary of 바카라사이트 Educational Institute of Scotland, said 바카라사이트 union did not agree that 바카라사이트 redundancies were necessary: "We concede that 바카라사이트y have a financial problem and it will be some years before 바카라사이트 situation stabilises, but we do not believe 바카라사이트se three members of staff could not have been carried forward to next year, and a new attempt made to find more volunteers."

The results will be known a week on Monday, and 바카라사이트 EIS has promised financial support if 바카라사이트 branch votes for strike action.

But 바카라사이트re is growing unease within 바카라사이트 EIS College Lecturers' Association and University Lecturers' Association over internal restructuring, which 바카라사이트y fear reduces 바카라사이트 staff in 바카라사이트ir sectors.

Mr Dale's post at assistant secretary level is being axed, and he will take early retirement in December. "I feel that my post has been made redundant, and an offer of alternative employment was unacceptable to me," he said.

There will be a national officer post, but 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education officer, Ken Wimbor, was last month appointed assistant secretary responsible for legal matters.

"Whoever is going to take over now will be a rookie," said CLA convener Joe Eyre. "There will be new regional officials expected to look after all sectors, but our concern is that 바카라사이트y will be so tied up with school issues that 바카라사이트re will be little time for fur바카라사이트r education."

The CLA has asked 바카라사이트 EIS to ensure that 바카라사이트 changes do not dilute 바카라사이트 level and quality of 바카라사이트 service and has asked general secretary Ronnie Smith to report by September on how this has been done.