A teaching union has criticised the planned merger of New College Nottingham and Central College Nottingham, saying it has left 378 staff “in the dark” about their futures.
The colleges announced they will combine to create Nottingham College last month, catering for students aged 16-plus and operating as one institution from September.
The new college will have around 40,000 students and benefit the local economy to the tune of £600 million a year – the college also says it will financially support thousands of apprentices and local businesses.
At least 153 posts are expected to be lost, but 122 new jobs will created.
But the University and College Union (UCU) claims the future of 378 staff is up in the air approaching the summer holiday.
A consultation on staff voluntarily making themselves redundant goes ahead next Monday (July 24).
UCU says the new posts could see staff downgraded, earning less money, and the details of vacancies have not been shown to staff.
UCU called on the college to halt the restructure process, stop redundancies and discuss with the union the best way forward for staff and students.
But the college says staff are told who can take up new roles, and it will remove identical job roles and instead invest in apprenticeships.
UCU regional official, Sue Davis, said: “The whole restructure process is being rushed through without proper time for consultation.
“The college has repeatedly failed to provide us with basic information about the proposed new structure, leaving staff in the dark.
“We are deeply concerned that the job cuts will lead to fewer opportunities and less support for local people to get the skills they need.
“Many staff are now being asked to make decisions about their future without appropriate information, while others face the choice of losing their job or accepting a new contract which leaves them with lower pay and worse terms and conditions.
“Trying to rush through a consultation over the summer period makes meaningful engagement extremely difficult and is leaving hundreds of staff in limbo about their future.
“The college urgently needs to halt the process, rule out compulsory redundancies and sit down with UCU to consider the best way forward for staff and students.”
Proposals have also been made to sell Beeston College, which was part of Central College Nottingham.
The new college is expected to annually turnover more than £80 million, and will be one of the largest in the country.
The amalgamation was decided following planning consultations last year as well as talks with staff, students and unions.
Nottingham College CEO, John van de Laarschot, said: “Merging two organisations is never easy and rarely painless, but staff have asked us to proceed as soon as is practical.
“Moving towards a single college structure is an important and necessary step in creating an educational provider that not only responds to the needs of our communities, and importantly our employers locally and regionally, but that also helps the college operate as a financially sustainable institution.
“This will protect jobs and education resources in the longer term.”
He added: “Staff have been aware for a while about the need for the college to merge structures, systems and processes in order to drive efficiency, remove duplication and respond to changing market forces.
“We have worked hard to propose a well thought through structure for Nottingham College that meets the needs and expectations of our staff, our students, our partners and our employer community and which, where possible, provides new opportunities for staff.”
