CARERS, parents and grandparents were joined by councillors and MSPs today as they rallied to fight “fire-and-rehire” plans to close a college nursery in Scotland.

After earlier closure plans were put on ice in May, New College Lanarkshire told parents and staff earlier this month that it planned to shut the nursery at its Cumbernauld campus on December 31.

The college stated that the running of the nursery at the site would be transferred to Amcol, a charity wholly owned by the college,  and would resume in August next year.

In a message read to the rally, workers thanked “everyone who took the time to be here today to keep our nursery open.

“This decision is being made for financial reasons and no consideration has been given to the impact this will have on our children, our families and on our staff, who are willing to do whatever it takes to keep our nursery running.”

The rally also received backing from local MSPs Jamie Hepburn and Mark Griffin, both of whom vowed to challenge college chiefs on the decision.

Mr Hepburn, an SNP minister, told the rally: “The strength of feeling of parents, carers, grandparents that can be seen today about the potential loss of the wonderful facility here at new college. 

“Frankly, I can’t make sense of this.”

Mr Griffin, a Labour MSP, told the Morning Star that the nursery was a “vital piece of infrastructure that goes alongside the college … without that, adult learners don’t have a chance.”

Campaigners have long suspected the eight-month closure of the nursery to be a fire-and-rehire tactic intended to avoid the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (Tupe) on workers’ terms and conditions applying to the college’s arm’s-length company.

These suspicions now appear to have been confirmed by the college in a response to local councillor Adam Smith, which was shared on social media.

It states: “The Amcol board commissioned their external accountant advisers to examine the feasibility of their taking over the premises.

“Their board has now informed the college board that they do not want to proceed with a Tupe process.”

A grandparent told the Star: “This is about the college shafting staff to save cash.

“Our kids will suffer so they can employ people on worse pay and pensions.

“It’s disgusting and we’re not going to sit back while our weans are caught in the crossfire.”

A New College Lanarkshire spokesperson said: “We are actively engaged in exploring all options to allow the nursery to continue operations.”