Staff threatened by redundancy at a Colchester college are to vote on taking strike action.
At a meeting of members of the largest lecturers' union, NATFHE, on Friday, a ballot was approved which will mean staff will decide what action to take to protest against proposed changes at Colchester Institute.
In January, college bosses announced moves to scrap full-time A-level courses to concentrate on vocational courses and boost enrolment figures which had fallen.
It was the result of an extensive review called for by the college.
But the move meant at least 50 jobs look likely to go. Spokesman for NATFHE Allen Martin said members would be voting in the next ten days on what action they would take.
"On Friday we again declared ourselves in dispute and asked for the process to be halted.
"Members were also asked to choose between a number of options including striking or working to rule. Balloting will be held within the next ten days," he said.
Mr Martin said a public meeting chaired by Colchester MP Bob Russell would still go ahead at the Town Hall tonight at 7.30pm.
By Lauren Spurgeon
Reporter's e-mail: lauren_spurgeon@thisisessex.co.uk
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