Staff at Havant & South Downs College have begun the first of three planned strikes today, opposing approximately 100 redundancies following the institution’s serious ongoing financial difficulties and what trade unions describe as catastrophic leadership failures at the senior level.
Picket lines formed across HSDC’s South Downs, Havant and Alton campus locations as employees launched industrial action against what they term “substantial redundancies” stemming from severe cash flow issues.
The University and College Union and National Education Union have collaborated to organise the walkouts, with the UCU attributing the college’s financial predicament to “catastrophic failures” in senior management.
Union Response
Michelle Seymour, HSDC’s University and College Union branch secretary, described the situation as devastating for long-serving staff members.
“What’s happening at HSDC is nothing short of a tragedy,” she stated. “Staff who have given decades of their lives to this college, people who have worked tirelessly for their students through all the challenges of recent years, are now facing redundancy because of catastrophic failures at the top.”
Financial Position
The college has been grappling with monetary difficulties for an extended period, with recent financial statements revealing a £548,000 deficit for the 2023/24 academic year.
Forecasting documents indicate that achieving cost reductions of at least £2 million by 2025/26 would provide “sufficient funds” to maintain operations and meet financial obligations through 31st July 2026.
However, union representatives point to a health assessment report from the Further Education Commissioner, published in February, which identified financial pressures so severe that the institution risked depleting its cash reserves within the current year.
The unions contend that insufficient funds exist to cover the proposed redundancy payments, estimated to exceed £1 million, claiming the college intends to advance next year’s Department for Education funding to meet these costs and other urgent commitments.
Leadership Departures
Ms Seymour highlighted a series of recent high-level departures as evidence of accountability failures.
“This year’s sudden departures firstly with the finance director – then the deputy principal in April with a week’s notice, and now the CEO, 10 days after tons of teaching staff got individual notifications they were ‘at risk’ of redundancy, announces his retirement — speak volumes about the lack of integrity and accountability at the top,” she explained.
“Behind every redundancy proposal is a dedicated member of staff whose life is being turned upside down. This strike is not just about resisting cuts. It’s about defending the future of our college and demanding that those who caused this crisis are finally held to account.”
- Portsmouth academics demand gender equality in ocean leadership
- Researchers develop crisis framework for petrol station closures
- Portsmouth academic tells MPs of ‘quiet chaos’ from rare cancer
UCU Representative Comments
Moray McAulay from the UCU, present at today’s picket lines, attributed the industrial action to “failure of the leadership at the college”.
“This college is facing a financial crisis. This is not the same across the further education sector so we are taking strike action to protest against the redundancies and to say we want stable and responsible leadership for our members and these students don’t face these cuts again,” he said.
College Response
HSDC has previously expressed disappointment that the planned strikes coincide with examinations and taster sessions, potentially affecting students during a critical educational period.
The institution stated: “We remain committed to minimising this impact, ensuring exam support and providing alternative arrangements for affected students.
“The proposals affect around 70 full-time equivalent roles (approximately 100 individuals), representing 12.5 per cent of our workforce. Our extended consultation process with local trade unions has resulted in most staffing reductions occurring voluntarily, with only about 30 FTE roles still under review.”
