Economy Minister approves NWRC severance scheme

A voluntary severance scheme proposed for staff across the North’s six Further Education (FE) Colleges - including Derry’s North West Regional College - has been given the go-ahead.

The scheme was brought forward by college employers in September 2023 amid what they described at the time as “an extremely challenging fiscal and political climate”.

FE staff members who successfully applied to the scheme have begun receiving letters of offer, after a brief hiatus.
The severance scheme was paused earlier this month following a meeting between Economy Minister Conor Murphy and union representatives.

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A statement from the Minister after that meeting said he was “currently taking advice on the options available to me for the future of the scheme.”

However, Derry News has received confirmation from the Department for the Economy that the voluntary severance scheme is now going ahead.

In a requested statement from the Department, a spokesperson said: “On taking up office, the Minister was briefed on the live Further Education sector staff exit scheme.

“The purpose of the scheme is to enable Colleges to reduce their operating costs/to help Colleges live within their budget allocations.

“The scheme has been in train for some time and is significantly oversubscribed, with colleges now in the process of issuing letters of offer to staff who wish to exit.

“This is a voluntary exit scheme and compulsory redundancy arrangements will not be enacted.

“The Minister has decided to allow the scheme to progress on a voluntary basis having considered the advanced nature of the process, and taken assurance on the sub-regional balance of the scheme and minimal impact this will have on front line service provision.

“The focus now is on growing the further education sector and increasing student numbers as a vital contributor to a thriving economy.”

The spokesperson added the Minister has been clear any savings released through the scheme would be reinvested in the further education sector “for the benefit of learners”.

Speaking to Derry News, a UCU (University and College Union) representative confirmed the severance scheme was underway and the first tranche of candidates who applied had received their letters of offer.

They said: “Unions are disappointed that they have prioritised redundancies over pay for the Further Education sector. UCU has sent a letter to Minister Murphy expressing this.

“We are trying to establish the amount of money that is being used for the redundancy scheme. It could be between £15 and £20 million and could be used for a decent pay rise for lecturers on the ground. 

“We really believe that pay should be prioritised and redundancies are not going to resolve the issues within FE. 

“It is looking at a temporary solution really, which is not a solution at all because we are going to lose the most experienced staff.” 

The UCU representative added: “It seems promoted academic posts are being removed, along with responsibility allowances, the opportunity for academic staff in the FE colleges to get promotional posts. There are major issues of concern with this scheme.

“The cost savings they are making on the basis of these redundancies should be put into pay rises for the remainder of the lecturing staff.”

During their February 12 meeting with Minister Murphy the NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers) and UCU representatives had “implored him to intervene and put a stop to the redundancies in the further education sector”.

At that time, Maxine Murphy-Higgins, NASUWT Policy and Case Worker (Northern Ireland), said NASUWT believed the further education sector was “central to rebuilding the economy in the post Covid landscape”.

She said: “We also highlighted that the further education sector is long overdue for a review and that making job reductions at this time is premature. 

“We also highlighted the fact that this money could be redirected to the pay settlement in the further education sector.”
It is believed the majority applications to the voluntary severance scheme came from FE staff who had been in post for a number of years.

One such member of staff at Derry’s North West Regional College told Derry News he had written directly to Minister Murphy in protest when it emerged the voluntary severance scheme had been paused.

In his letter the lecturer said: “I know that between just two of our colleges there are over 300 applicants for the scheme which suggests there are probably around 1000 applicants in total that you have just alienated.

“A voluntary exit scheme has been used many times over the years without any objection from my union, to the best of my knowledge; I don't see why it's a problem now all of a sudden.

“Not only is there serious undertones of ageism where it is suggested more mature lecturers are allowed to wither away as natural wastage, but there wasn't even a consultation with us members before writing to you.

“I implore you to reverse your decision as quickly as possible, especially as I believe the business case was previously made and agreed.”

Speaking to Derry News on behalf of North West Regional College a spokesperson said: “Following a reduction of £130M in the Department for Economy’s (DfE) budget, Northern Ireland’s six Further Education Colleges devised an exit scheme for staff, on a voluntary basis.

“Formal consultations began with Union colleagues regarding the scheme in November 2023.

“This scheme has now closed and NWRC has received 129 (FTE) expressions of interest.

“Final decisions will be made on those in the coming weeks.

“The College remains fully committed to ensuring that the outworking of this voluntary severance scheme does not impact negatively on our learners, staff or FE provision more generally.”