Teachers at a college in south-west London have started a week-long strike against plans to “fire and rehire” staff to cut their holiday pay.
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) at Richmond upon Thames College will retire May 23-28.
The union said “deplorable” contract changes could affect 127 teachers.
The college said it was a “worst-case scenario” for its 3,600 students.
The strike action came after the college proposed sacking all teachers and hiring them on new contracts with a total of eight fewer vacation days.
It called the proposal “fired and reinstated,” according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
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The practice is when employers try to change the terms of their employment contracts – usually on worse terms.
The union said the changes could affect 127 teachers, but the college claimed the number is lower since it announced the proposals in March.
In a statement, Richmond upon Thames College added that a number of staff are on fixed-term contracts which “may or may not be required for the next year depending on student numbers”.
The union said that 97% of its members who took part in a vote voted for strike action, while 100% voted for action outside of a strike, which could mean teachers would refuse to represent colleagues and hold classes after strike not to be postponed.
Assessments can also be boycotted as part of the strikes.
Union general secretary Jo Grady said the college’s behavior was “regrettable” and was being answered “with the full force of our union”.
UCU London Regional Officer Adam Lincoln said: “The management of Richmond upon Thames College joins the ranks of some of the country’s worst employers in threatening to sack its own staff if they refuse to accept worse conditions .
He added that teachers were “committed to supporting their students, not least during the pandemic.”
Brent North MP Barry Gardiner, who saw his attempts to ban “fire and reinstate” by the government in 2021 blocked, called the college’s actions a “disgrace”.
Richmond upon Thames College said the changes were being made in the best interests of students.
“The College has shown a real desire to negotiate the full package of benefits, including pay and annual leave levels, and has confirmed the offer of 100 percent monetary compensation (consolidated) for the net reduction in annual leave,” it said in a statement.
“It is important that we find the right balance between working hours and annual leave.
“Without the changes we are proposing, the college will not be able to provide the service our students deserve.”
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