A South West London college has been blasted for using "fire and rehire" tactics to force teachers into new contracts with less holiday as term begins. Teachers will walk out of Richmond upon Thames College next Monday after being left with a "sign or sack ultimatum" when last-ditch talks failed, the University and College Union said.

Teachers first walked out in May after the college revealed plans to "dismiss and re-engage" them on new contracts with less holiday as a "worst case scenario" if the dispute could not be resolved. The government blocked legislation from Labour MP Barry Gardiner to ban "fire and rehire" tactics in October 2021. Mr Gardiner joined staff at a rally outside the college in May. 

The college has now confirmed with "deep regret" that teachers were dismissed and rehired on the new contracts on September 1. UCU suspended two weeks of planned strikes to allow for last-minute talks in August but no agreement was reached.

Richmond upon Thames College. Credit: Google Maps

The college said most staff had already signed up to the new contracts and claimed they had "more favourable" terms. But it means teachers' holiday has been slashed from 64 days to 56, including bank holidays. 

More than 100 teachers are now employed on the new contracts, according to the union. Adam Lincoln, UCU regional officer, said staff were "furious" about being "forced to sign up to a punitive new contract that sees them lose eight days of holiday or be sacked". He said there will be more strikes if the college doesn't restore annual leave.

He said: "We are incredibly proud of how our members have fought against Richmond upon Thames College's brutal management and the concessions they have won, which include full financial compensation for every day of leave they have lost.

"But the college has acted atrociously, exploiting the lack of legal protections against 'fire and rehire' to enforce a sign or sack ultimatum. Our members will now carry on the fight to win a fair deal."

UCU members rally outside Richmond upon Thames College on 23 May. Credit: UCU

Richmond upon Thames College said in a statement it has a "moral obligation to honour the new contract to which the significant majority of current RuTC teaching staff have signed over the last three months". It said all new staff had been recruited "on these more favourable terms and conditions and the college must honour this" and that it hopes it can "begin to rebuild morale and relationships". 

A college spokesperson said: "This contract has an increased new salary scale, benchmarked with the sector, without an associated increase in workload. RuTC now offers a competitive salary in this very difficult recruitment climate which gives a welcome increase in earnings at a time of significant cost-of-living rises. 

"We are implementing an exciting new teaching staff development programme and we have created space for teachers to collaborate and reflect, with additional time for planning, preparation, assessment and support for students for which teachers will be fully remunerated."