Lecturers at a college struggling with debts of £12m went on strike today over plans to cut 100 jobs.
Staff from Sandwell College, West Midlands, picketed the four campuses around the borough in protest at the proposed redundancies.
The one-day industrial action is the latest blow for the institution, which is trying to shore up a huge financial black hole while planning a £40m move to new premises in West Bromwich.
The lecturers' strike has the backing of the further and higher education teachers' union Natfhe.
Speaking from one of the picket lines in Oldbury, Natfhe's regional organiser, Una O'Brien, said: "There have been year-on-year redundancies at Sandwell and we had been hoping they would have got themselves sorted out.
"Then suddenly they are £12m in debt. We are saying the college needs to put more pressure on the Learning Skills Council to fund the four campuses, not close them down."
Union officials are planning a two-day strike next month and further action if the college presses ahead with the redundancies.
A spokesperson from the college said that the management of the college regretted the decision to strike. The spokesperson added that there were a small number of pickets but classes were running as normal.
College principal, Val Bailey, said: "Whilst we empathise with the concerns of staff, our first priority must be the education of our students. The proposed changes will enable the college to move forward and operate efficiently in the challenging environment."
