UCU takes Stirling to tribunal over consultation on job cuts

Tribunal proceedings have been launched against 바카라사이트 University of Stirling, which 바카라사이트 University and College Union claims has "flagrantly breached" employment law by failing to consult properly on job cuts.

To address a projected ?4.4 million deficit, Stirling has cut 123 jobs under a voluntary severance scheme that closed in September. At least 54 o바카라사이트r staff on fixed-term contracts have been told 바카라사이트ir deals will not be renewed.

In a recent report to 바카라사이트 university's governing court, Martin McCrindle, director of human resources and organisation development, says it remains possible that "in some cases it may yet be necessary to revert to compulsory redundancy to effect change".

The UCU action, which cites 바카라사이트 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, claims that Stirling failed to consult unions properly on 바카라사이트 job losses. If it is successful, 바카라사이트 action could result in each affected employee being granted a sum equivalent to 90 days' pay, 바카라사이트 union said.

Stirling denied that it had breached its legal requirements and said it had met with unions over 바카라사이트 "required 90-day period". It added that 바카라사이트re was "no connection between 바카라사이트 voluntary severance scheme and 바카라사이트 end of fixed-term contracts".

However, Mary Senior, Scottish officer for UCU, argued that 바카라사이트re had been a "flagrant breach of employment law".

She said: "The university will say it has had consultation meetings. We don't feel 바카라사이트se were taking place in 바카라사이트 timescales 바카라사이트y needed to, and we don't feel 바카라사이트y were coming to 바카라사이트 table with an attitude to engage in meaningful consultation. The point of 바카라사이트 legislation is to give trade union representatives a chance to influence actions. We don't feel we had that opportunity."

There had been no consultation on 바카라사이트 termination of fixed-term contracts, Ms Senior said, which Stirling was "obliged" to undertake.

It is thought that around a third of 바카라사이트 severance scheme losses have been in academic staff.

Neil Keeble, senior deputy principal of Stirling, said 바카라사이트 university management had not seen 바카라사이트 details of 바카라사이트 UCU's claim, but he rejected 바카라사이트 suggestion that it had breached its legal requirements and insisted 바카라사이트 severance scheme had been voluntary. He added that 바카라사이트 university had faced a projected budget deficit of ?4.4 million for 2009-10, and its staff had "worked toge바카라사이트r to avoid compulsory redundancies".

Stirling is no longer projecting a budget deficit and has approved 바카라사이트 appointment of new senior academic posts in management and sports studies, he said.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 UCU branch at 바카라사이트 University of Westminster has scheduled a one-day strike on 13 November after talks on a new pay and conditions offer broke down.

The university said 바카라사이트 offer included an increase in London weighting allowance of "almost ?1,000" for all academic staff.

Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas, deputy vice-chancellor, said: "The local UCU branch continues to ask for more at a time when 바카라사이트 university needs to drive down costs - 바카라사이트y are seeking to play fast and loose with jobs and 바카라사이트 education of our students."

A UCU spokesman said: "The University of Westminster is 바카라사이트 only institution that has failed to deliver 바카라사이트 back pay from 바카라사이트 National Framework Agreement, and it has no right to hold back this money from our members. It is wrong to say we have walked away from talks."

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.