A COLLEGE where job losses have just been announced has suffered a vote of no confidence in its management.

Writtle College announced compulsory redundancies on Monday.

Now staff at the horticultural college are described as “having lost faith” in the principal Professor David Butcher and his senior management team.

The ballot of members from the University and College Union, Unison and Unite, revealed 91 per cent were concerned about the impact job losses and worsening conditions of service would have on students’ education and front line services. UCU has accused senior management of failing to come up with a “coherent plan” for the college’s long-term financial and operational stability.

The union’s branch chairman Pennie Wallace said: “This college has a fantastic track record of providing high quality education.

“Staff here at Writtle are committed to the college and its students and have been patiently waiting for the senior management team to deliver a credible solution.

“The vote of ‘no confidence’ is very much a last resort to get management to act in the long-term interests of the college.”

The unions have been backed by the students’ union.

President Emily Stevens said: “I am really disappointed at what has happened here at Writtle.

“Students feel completely let down. Senior management has failed to respond to our concerns about how these cuts will affect courses and our education.”

The unions say the compulsory job losses are 16 and follow 13 voluntary ones. The college says the compulsory redundancies are the equivalent of 11 full-time posts.

Chairman of the Writtle board of governors Lotte Olsen said: “The board does not agree with the outcome of the vote, which reflects the views of union members and is not a comprehensive indicator of the total staff view.

“The board of governors has absolute confidence in the senior management team and this includes the work they are undertaking in safeguarding the strategic priority of sustainable independence for Writtle.”

She added: “The college is currently undergoing organisational change to ensure sustainable independence for the future.

“We are confident, as a result of these steps, there will be a significant improvement in the institution’s financial performance in the academic year 2010 to 11 and beyond.”

The college plans to increase international student numbers, attract private sector funding and renewed emphasis on research and consultancy.