Two trade unions representing staff at HSDC - which includes Alton College - are threatening strike action unless “damaging” plans for compulsory redundancies are withdrawn.

HSDC has been consulting its staff over plans to axe the equivalent of 106 full-time jobs in a bid to plug a £5 million hole in its 2025-26 budget.

Teaching staff across its three campuses - Alton, Havant and South Downs colleges - would be reduced by a third from the equivalent of 220 full-time jobs to 150.

Redeployment, voluntary redundancy and deleting vacant posts could reduce compulsory redundancies to the equivalent of around 74 full-time jobs, affecting about 104 employees.

But the National Education Union and the University and College Union are adamant that staff should not have to pay the price for poor financial management outlined in a health check report from the Further Education Commissioner.

They want the threat of compulsory redundancies removed, with 76 per cent of NEU members - on a 67 per cent turnout - voting to strike unless that happens. The UCU strike ballot began last Wednesday and will continue for another week.

In a statement, the NEU said: “HSDC’s job cuts proposal places the jobs of scores of educators at risk and risks damaging education to students at Alton, South Downs and Havant colleges.

“The current financial situation is a result of years of poor management coupled with government underfunding of the sector.

“We are calling on the college to withdraw all compulsory redundancies and expedite savings through voluntary redundancies only.”

The NEU said HSDC was proposing “over 71 redundancies, probably more”, but it was not yet clear what the exact number would be and how many of them would be at Alton.

The union added that it had 130 members at HSDC and 76 at Alton College, who would all be either directly affected by risk of redundancy or would have to deal with an increased workload.

It has asked the college to increase voluntary redundancy compensation to the same as that paid in Hampshire schools to attract more volunteers and avoid compulsory redundancies.

Members are considering strike dates and action is likely unless the proposal for compulsory redundancies is withdrawn and voluntary redundancy compensation is increased.

UCU regional official Moray McAulay said: "We have engaged in collective consultation and made progress, but the employer refuses to rule out job losses altogether.

“We are awaiting the outcome of the redundancy consultation, but we are expecting significant numbers of job losses.

“Our members should not pay the price for failures in financial stewardship, and need meaningful reassurances that management will provide long-term financial stability and academic leadership for HSDC.

“Unless the employer either rules out compulsory redundancies, or reduces the number of cuts further, the college could face industrial action later in the year."

HSDC has been approached for comment.