A COLLEGE in Scotland was accused of overstepping the “boundaries of human decency” today after charging ahead with plans for redundancy talks amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Forth Valley College launched a consultation threatening job losses and changes to vocational education last month.

Last week union members at the college voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action as a result, with uncertainty about how to proceed given the outbreak Covid-19.

The Educational Institute Scotland-Further Education Lecturers’ Association (EIS-FELA) branch requested that the consultation and redundancy process be delayed to prepare staff, students and the public for the outbreak.

But the college has indicated that it will push through with the redundancy process.

Staff are now expected to be asked to defend their jobs via online interviews.

A petition branding the move as “shameless” has already been signed by hundreds of supporters.

The union’s branch president Anne-Marie Harley said that continuing with the redundancy procedure during a virus epidemic is “a cynical move designed to stop resistance to the process.”

She also said that the methods being used by the college overstep “the boundaries of human decency in a time of crisis.”

Politicians are now attempting to intervene, with Scottish Labour calling for an immediate halt to the redundancy process, calling the moves “cynical” and “cruel.”

East Lothian Labour MSP Iain Gray said: “As the impact of coronavirus hits our schools, colleges and universities we should be seeing steps taken to protect staff — not opportunistic efforts to get rid of them.”

The college said in a statement: “Our aim has always been to retain as many staff as possible.

“We are pleased to confirm that we anticipate that there will be no redundancies as a result of the consultation and no requirement for competitive interviews.”