A NORTH-EAST college is making 171 staff redundant.

Newcastle College, which attracts students from across Tyneside and County Durham, announced the job cuts yesterday.

Dame Jackie Fisher, chief executive of the Newcastle College group, said: “We are very disappointed by the planned reductions to education funding. We are doing everything we can to safeguard courses and jobs for our many staff who work very hard to give our learners and customers valuable qualifications and employment.

“However, we regret that, as a result of the change in funding allocation, we have had to announce the likelihood that 171 posts will be made redundant. We have entered into full consultation with the appropriate employee representatives and will be working to support the individuals involved.”

Leaders from the University and College Union accused college bosses of jumping the gun and using the current funding difficulties as an excuse to make cuts.

A total of 120 of the jobs to go will be teaching posts, the union claimed.

The union’s regional official, Iain Owens, said: “Workers in the North-East are losing their jobs daily. Now Newcastle College has decided to make redundant the very people whose job it is to retrain the unemployed and help rebuild the economy.

“We are not blind to the troubles facing the further education sector and realise that there will have to be difficult decisions made. What we do not, and will not, accept is the college jumping the gun and using funding cuts to unnecessarily sack staff or hold a gun to the heads of staff who fear for their livelihoods.”