Welsh college axes 13 academics

Thirteen academics at the University of Wales College Newport have been made compulsorily redundant and will leave on October 7. They were notified of the decision only at the beginning of last week.

Although the staff will receive three months' pay in lieu of the normal notice period, only those over 50 will be eligible for a pay-out under the early retirement scheme. Those under 50 will not receive their pension until they are 60.

The outcome of appeals against the redundancies will not be known until October 4.

The decision has angered staff and a joint Natfhe/Unison meeting last week unanimously approved a ballot on industrial action.

Voluntary redundancies have already been taken by 24 academics, meaning 37 of the college's 170 full-time staff will go. Nine technicians have also been given compulsory redundancy notices.

Len Arthur, a Natfhe national executive member responsible for higher education in Wales, said union members at Newport were very angry and very worried. He said the union was disputing the administration's claim that agreements allowed the college to give staff just three months' notice.

At the University of Wales Institute Cardiff, 15 academics recently made redundant have been given one year's notice.

A spokesman for the Newport college said compulsory redundancies became necessary after too few staff opted for voluntary separation. The college faced a Pounds 900,000 deficit this financial year.

He said a top-level management team had examined each academic and used a "fair and rigorous" marking system to identify areas for compulsory redundancies.

According to the spokesman, some could be redeployed and all could appeal to the college principal, who had not taken part in the selection process.

Mr Arthur said Natfhe would pressure the Welsh Office and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales to take action over the redundancies at both institutions.