Oldham College in jobs blow

Oldham College; job losses

TWENTY-FOUR jobs are being axed at Oldham College as one of a series of measures to help cut the wage bill by £1 million.

Twnety one full-time and three part-time posts — four per cent of the workforce — will go in the next month.

Bosses will also employ fewer temporary staff, save money by natural wastage and offer flexible, term-time working to those who want it. They hope as many of the redundancies as possible will be voluntary.

The redundancies will not include senior managers, since changes have already been made at that level.

Yesterday’s announcement follows a review of the Rochdale Road college. Principal Alun Francis said: “It is with great reluctance that we will be making a number of redundancies.

“We allowed the process of natural turnover to take its course, but we have to take notice of the conclusions our detailed business challenge process has drawn.

“We are required to operate as efficiently as possible and unfortunately these tough economic times have made these pressures even more defined.”

The redundancies will come from a pool of 37 jobs “at risk”. All staff had briefing sessions yesterday.