Up to 99 jobs are being axed by Wiltshire College while many other staff are having their holidays cut.

Union leaders have lashed out at senior managers, who are unaffected by the new limits on holidays. The cuts are being blamed by the college’s management on reductions in government grants the college receives of between seven and 12 per cent.

Staff at every campus, including Chippenham and Lackham, are at risk of losing their jobs, including 22 lecturers, eight learning support workers and support staff, site managers, advisors and IT technicians. Departments such as visual arts, performing arts, sports, travel, beauty and catering are affected.

Other employees will have their holiday entitlement cut by up to 13 days and the notice period for future redundancies reduced from four months to three. Previously staff were allowed to take time at Christmas and Easter, when the college is shut, without it affecting their holiday entitlement. Those days will now form part of that entitlement.

Andrew Currie, spokesman for Universities and College Union, which represents lecturers, said: “It’s a case of a rule for one and a rule for another. Everyone but the senior managers are affected. Unfortunately redundancies at Wiltshire College are becoming somewhat of an annual event. We appreciate that it is a big college but even so we are beginning to question the ability of the management to manage it.”

Union members are to meet at the Trowbridge campus today to discuss what action they plan to take next.

The college is consulting with staff over a 30-day period.

Mrs Dale said the college has suffered a continual reduction in government grants. She added: “This obviously puts the college in a challenging position. We need to respond to this and save money where we can. The college has therefore reviewed all its services and the way they are delivered to find increased business efficiencies, staffing was included in this. As a result of this review, the college expects a reorganisation will result in a number of staff losing their jobs this summer in order to achieve the £2.4m of savings needed.

“Protecting our learners and staff is our first priority but in the current economic climate, this is a real challenge. We have had to make some difficult decisions and are trying to keep job losses to a minimum.”