Defending YOUR Education

 Defending Jobs – Defending Education @ Chesterfield College.

Lecturers at Chesterfield College are campaigning to stop teaching staff being sacked at the College. We strongly believe that the education we provide to our students is at risk.

What’s the background to our campaign?

Over the last 2 years the college has tried to make lecturers redundant at the College. Over 70 lecturer jobs have already gone by “voluntary redundancy”. This year they plan 40 more compulsory redundancies for lecturing staff. That means fewer trained lecturers to teach and support students and larger class sizes. This leads to less time for staff to give students the individual support they need.

Are the redundancies necessary?

We don’t believe so. It is true that the government is squeezing the funding given to colleges. But Chesterfield College is not in a financial crisis. The college has over £12 million in the bank, and have chosen to spend money on prestige projects like the new reception area and the proposed Queens Park Annexe. New facilities in College are great - but not at the expense of teaching posts and class sizes which directly affect learning.

Will the proposed changes affect students’ education?

Lecturers are dedicated professionals who are committed to education, we will always try to deliver the highest quality to our students whatever the circumstances. However the College’s own predictions about the impact of some of the changes they are proposing states that the changes could “compromise success rates” and put remaining staff  “under significant workload strain”.

Will lecturers be taking strike action?

UCU, the lecturers union, is balloting its members on possible strike action. But we are continuing to talk to the college urging them to withdraw  compulsory redundancies.

What you can do to support us.

·      Sign the UCU petition against job cuts @ Chesterfield College

·      Visit our online campaign blog at http://chesterfieldcollegeucu.blogspot.co.uk/

·      If lecturers do have to resort to industrial action to defend further education in Chesterfield, show your support for our campaign.