The cost of losing £2 million
City College UCU Branch is bitterly disappointed by City College’s announcement that 87 jobs will be lost.
The College has to reduce its costs by approximately £2 ½ million, which in effect means taking £2 ½ million pounds out of the local economy and pushing people into unemployment.
Investment is needed in education and training, not cuts.
The University and College Union recognise that the College is forced into making these savings in response to the government’s policy of slashing and burning our public services: under the pretext of responding to a perceived government debt, created by the unregulated so called ‘private’ Financial Sector.
Yesterday we received the latest Growth Figures, which indicate that our economy is stagnating and struggling to show signs of any growth. We are encouraged to get down on our knees and pray that the private sector will come to our rescue and create jobs by being innovative; however we see no vanguards of the private sector coming over the horizon to save us from our plight. On the contrary we hear that small businesses are struggling to get cheap loans from the Banks as they look to consolidate their losses using tax payers’ money, whilst at the same time handing out considerable sums of money in bonuses.
We are now told that we need to build a sustainable economy which will depend upon building up our manufacturing base; this is rather ironic as the political left warned against its erosion during the previous Conservative government’s demolition and destruction. We are also being informed that our ability to re-build our manufacturing base will depend upon having people with the necessary required skills, which will mean investing in training and education.
At a time when the economy needs money pumped into it to create demand for goods and services and at a time when commentators are recognising that major investment is required in training and education so that we can create a more sustainable economy, this government is determined to push a generation into poverty and debt. It is determined to take money out of our members’ pockets under the pretext that this nation cannot afford to pay for things like jobs and pensions. Our members long for the day when they can see a government working in the interests of its citizens rather than those of big business.
As a Branch we will be encouraging our members to get vocal and to be seen on the streets, we will be looking to join hands in solidarity with our fellow trade unionists and demand that this government work in the interests of its citizens.
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