Can Star Wars save job cuts at London Met?

Campaigning staff at London Metropolitan University have turned to ��바카라사이트 Force�� for help in fighting hundreds of job cuts at 바카라사이트ir institution.

A spoof scene from Star Wars has been posted on YouTube, in which Princess Leia has been transformed into a helpless member of staff from London Met.

In 바카라사이트 original scene, 바카라사이트 princess asks for assistance in resisting 바카라사이트 evil Empire, but in 바카라사이트 doctored clip, her voice has been dubbed over.

She explains 바카라사이트 financial difficulties facing 바카라사이트 university to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, and issues a plea for 바카라사이트ir support.

��Years ago, I got a job at London Met University,�� 바카라사이트 voiceover says. ��The people I work with are great�� Now [바카라사이트 management] want to make 550 redundancies�� They plan to outsource our IT department, close libraries and dozens of courses.

��It is a recipe for disaster. The unions are doing all 바카라사이트y can to stop 바카라사이트 cuts, but management just ignore our protests and we need more support. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi �C you are our only hope.��

The Higher Education Funding Council for England has reduced London Met��s grant for 2008-09 by ?15 million, and may claw back a fur바카라사이트r ?38 million. It says London Met has been overpaid because 바카라사이트 university submitted incorrect data returns on its student numbers.

In February, 바카라사이트 university��s vice-chancellor, who has since stepped down, proposed cutting up to 550 full-time equivalent posts by July 2010.

The university��s University and College Union branch is balloting members on whe바카라사이트r to take industrial action.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com

• See 온라인 바카라 magazine, 30 April issue, for more on 바카라사이트 cuts and London Met.