Picket lines have formed outside college sites across west London as staff hold a 24-hour walk-out .
Teachers at Ealing Hammersmith and West London College (EHWLC) took industrial action on Thursday (June 29) over a job losses row.
Classes at the colleges sites, in Acton, Ealing, Hammersmith and Southall are said to be affected by the walk-out.
The strike was called by the University and College Union (UCU), with 83% of its members voting in support of industrial action in a ballot, and comes after the EHWLC announced plans to scrap A level teaching and make cuts in computing and IT, access, and business departments, leaving 14 staff at risk.
UCU branch secretary Matthew Cookson, who teaches A Level English and is taking compulsory redundancy.
Speaking from the Ealing picket line he said: “It’s only teachers on strike but all of the other staff in the college are in support of the teachers as we are campaigning for jobs in education.
“They’re supportive of our demands and actions.
“There’s a sense of solidarity and togetherness. There’s pride in the fact that we are all standing together.”
Protests against compulsory job losses at the college were held in 2014 , and in 2015 a 24-hour strike was called , also over job loss fears.
Around 30 pupils will be affected by the A level decision, with the college still offering vocational courses BTECs, apprenticeships and more.
Speaking to getwestlondon ahead of the strikes, the college said: “We continue to meet the changing needs of our students in the west London region.
“As a result of this process, we have unfortunately had to make a small number of compulsory redundancies having explored all other available options.
“The college is still open as usual and we continue to support students through their exams and end of year assessments.”
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