BOSSES at Scotland’s Forth Valley College were condemned today for continuing a redundancy process during the Covid-19 epidemic.

The college has come under heavy criticism from the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) for proposals that could lead to more than 30 lecturing staff being made redundant and replaced with less-qualified staff on inferior terms and conditions.

In March the union asked the college to call a halt to the process during the Covid-19 crisis, but this request has reportedly been refused by management.

The college has since said that the dozens of staff at risk of redundancy will have an offer of employment with salary conservation following the consultation, following a voluntary severance scheme.

But the EIS says that the proposed moves could mean the effective removal of lecturers from vocational education at the site, branding the decision “shocking.”

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan said: “The actions of Forth Valley College, a publicly funded institution, are absolutely deserving of condemnation.

“It is completely indefensible that the college is seeking to make hard-working lecturing staff redundant during this crisis.”

An online demonstration will be held on Wednesday at 1pm to protest against the college’s actions.

EIS-Further Education Lecturers’ Association acting president Charlie Montgomery said: “These staff not only have to face the strain of coronavirus but now they must fight for their jobs too. It’s a disgrace.”

The college said that meetings with at-risk staff are likely to be delayed while the college is closed.

Its statement said: “Our aims are to ensure there are no additional pressures and added uncertainty caused by unnecessary delays.

“We are committed to managing this process with staff and will do everything we can to support them throughout this period.”