LECTURERS could face pay freezes or job losses as college bosses thrash out cuts totalling £500,000.

Blackburn College is being forced to make the drastic savings as a result of government "efficiency gains" over a three-year period.

And a long list of possible cutbacks has been issued to staff as management consult union representatives to hammer out a deal.

Options include redundancies, a three-year pay freeze, or a reduction of working hours.

Chris Jenkins, chairman of NATFHE's local branch, said: "In terms of redundancies, nothing is spelt out - but they are an option. Someone is bound to get hurt.

"The union is suggesting that the management should be looking to generate cash, rather than tighten its budget."

Problems started around five years ago when colleges became incorporated - leaving them to manage their own budgets.

Mr Jenkins added: "A three-week consultation period will be followed by a college board meeting. It is being rushed through because if any lecturers are to be made redundant, they have to be told now."

But principal John Bolton was keen to dampen rumours of redundancies. He said: "We will offer staff early retirements, rather than making them redundant.

"Each year our resources are dropping, which means that making cuts is getting harder. We have been trimming down the day-to-day running of the college over the past few years but it is getting much more difficult."

He added: "Redundancies are not on the cards at present but I cannot make guarantees at this stage."

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