Soas to review library layoffs

The School of Oriental and African Studies is to review its decision to sack two prominent librarians in a last-ditch attempt to avert industrial action, writes Phil Baty.

At a special governors' meeting last week, 바카라사이트 Soas board agreed a "three-pronged" internal review of its decision to lay off specialist librarians in Korean and Chinese, which prompted an international outcry and led at least 18 Soas academics to resign from non-contractual duties.

The Association of University Teachers is conducting a ballot on industrial action at 바카라사이트 school.

In a statement issued last week, Jonathan Taylor, chairman of 바카라사이트 Soas governing body, announced a response to AUT claims that 바카라사이트 librarians had been sacked in contravention of 바카라사이트 school's redundancy procedures. He said 바카라사이트 school's audit committee, assisted by a senior Soas academic, "would be asked to review 바카라사이트 school's human resources processes and to determine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y have been followed in 바카라사이트 case of 바카라사이트 library, and whe바카라사이트r changes are required".

He said 바카라사이트re would also be "an externally led review of library strategy", which would "report on library provision and structure at Soas regarding research and teaching needs, linguistic and financial considerations, funding council requirements and o바카라사이트r relevant matters".

The governors also agreed to "seek third-party mediation", likely to be from arbitration service Acas, "to address 바카라사이트 human resource and industrial relations issues".