College lecturers in Birmingham go on strike

College lecturers across Birmingham have gone on strike in protest at planned job cuts.

The University and College Union is protesting against 78 planned redundancies and course closures at City College.

Lecturers at Birmingham Metropolitan College are also walking out over plans to make about 100 staff redundant.

The strikes are part of a nationwide day of action over funding cuts in adult, higher and further education.

Union members were due to march through Birmingham city centre to the headquarters of the Skills Funding Council to present a petition calling for education funding to be protected.

Regional organiser Chris Varney said: "We're looking for the government to totally revise its funding model for further education.

"Never has there been a time when the need for retraining and education been greater."

A spokesman for City College said talks were ongoing with unions over redundancies.

"We will do everything we can to avoid compulsory redundancies, but cannot at this stage rule out the possibility," he said.

"Redundancies will not primarily be to front line services, with the majority of anticipated losses of posts in management and support functions.

"Until all options to mitigate redundancy have been explored we are unable to confirm if we are in that position."