Tertiary Education Union organiser Gail Arthur said there were two separate restructuring processes happening simultaneously this week — one targeting management and the other general staff.
The cuts come after a wave of previous cuts as the polytechnic looks to make the savings needed to be financially viable.
Ms Arthur said general staff across a large cross-section of the polytechnic were affected, and "everyone was waiting and seeing".
After the polytechnic outlined plans in several meetings yesterday, some general staff were left "traumatised" and "in tears".
The polytechnic yesterday declined to elaborate on the scale of the job losses.
But the Otago Daily Times reported last week the Otago Polytechnic’s "road map to viability" aims to make $10 million in savings by the end of the year, and so far it is understood it has made savings of $6m.
Otago Polytechnic executive director Dr Megan Pōtiki said the general staff restructuring was about “right-sizing”.
"As indicated previously, this is part of the 2024-25 ‘road map to viability’ timeline to support Otago Polytechnic’s long-term sustainability.
"The total savings potential will not be known until the end of our various consultation processes."
At the same time as general staff wait for their fate, the polytechnic is also restructuring management.
As a number of management staff did not work fulltime, TEU general secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu estimated the process would affect at least 25 individuals.
Some of them would have new roles under the changed structure, but he estimated several would exit their positions.
"It is very sad.
"These are people who have a direct role in the courses — either managing them or helping with their design."
Dr Pōtiki said the management restructure was "about setting up a sustainable leadership structure across Otago Polytechnic".
"This round proposes to transition some management positions to being fulltime leadership roles.
"Currently these senior kaimahi are juggling dual roles which include some leadership duties and some teaching duties."
Ms Arthur said restructuring was tough for all staff and management affected — particularly those who had been working during the formation and now breaking up of mega-polytechnic Te Pūkenga.
"I think there's been a long period of uncertainty for everybody.
"Even the folk that I've talked to in the leadership, their backs are against the wall.
"It's been a hell of a process going into Te Pūkenga and it's a hell of a process going out of it."
Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds announced last week Otago Polytechnic would be part of a federation with the Open Polytechnic and the Universal College of Learning (UCOL).
The Southern Institute of Technology, in Invercargill, was allowed to stand alone.
Ms Simmonds has said Otago Polytechnic had "more work to do" before it became financially viable enough to stand alone.
