British Council staff in Italy to strike over proposed 80% workforce cut

Staff at the British Council in Italy plan strikes over proposed deep cuts tied to a funding crisis. About 130 teaching staff across Rome, Milan, and Naples are affected, with 108 targeted, which would slash roughly 80% of the workforce. The changes would end 80 years of British Council English language teaching in Italy. Staff plan to protest at the British embassy in Rome and hold another strike on 4 June. The British Council faces restructuring after a 197m government loan from the Covid period, with reported annual interest of about 14m and repayment due by September. While teaching would be reduced, exams are expected to continue through partners and cultural events would remain. The chief executive has warned the organisation could disappear within a decade without government action.

"Staff at the British Council in Italy will go on strike over deep cuts that would slash about 80% of its workforce due to a funding crisis facing the organisation. Out of 130 of its teaching staff across Rome, Milan and Naples, 108 are being targeted as teaching activities in Italy face the axe. The move would end 80 years of British Council English language teaching in Italy as part of the organisation's global mission to promote British culture and education across the world, sources said."

"Shocked staff will protest next on Thursday to the British embassy in Rome, with another strike planned for 4 June. The British Council, a leading institution of soft power founded in 1934 which operates in about 100 countries, has been forcedto restructure due to a 197m government loan that dates back to the Covid pandemic. The loan, agreed under Boris Johnson's Conservative government, has a reported annual interest of about 14m and must be repaid by September."

"Everybody is very shocked, very upset, very sad, obviously also very angry as well. Because our presence will be so small at the end of all this, it's a very strong political message that Italy isn't important. The British Council conducts English language tuition for adults and children as well as corporate and business classes. It is understood its exams division would continue under partners and cultural events would remain."

"The British Council's chief executive, Scott McDonald, has previously said the organisation could disappear within a decade, harming the UK's global status and leaving an international vacuum to be filled by Russia and China, unless the government acts to save it. Politico reported that an internal consultation document lists 784 jobs in scope across the UK and Europe, with at least 404 roles expected to be displaced, which accounts for 15% of staff."

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