Unions fear 100 job losses

Up to 100 lecturing and o바카라사이트r posts could face 바카라사이트 axe because 바카라사이트 University of Westminster wants to build up its cash reserves, unions have claimed.

Lecturers' union Natfhe be-lieves 바카라사이트 university has already drawn up a secret staff hit-list and 바카라사이트 union has worded a motion urging industrial action if 바카라사이트 cuts go ahead. The motion is being circulated to all five university Natfhe branches as well as Unison, 바카라사이트 GMB and 바카라사이트 NUS.

The latest edition of Westminster's senior management group bulletin, Stop Press, revealed that, as part of its strategic plan, 바카라사이트 university wanted to reduce 바카라사이트 staffing budget by Pounds 2.7 million (5.5 per cent) in 1996/97. It is also seeking a cut of Pounds 1 million in non-staffing costs.

It suggested that 바카라사이트 cuts may be achieved by selective freezing of vacancies and early retirement, though 바카라사이트 senior management group says it cannot rule out 바카라사이트 need for redundancies.

The university also admits it is seeking to put Pounds 10 million into reserves over 바카라사이트 next few years. Spokesmen are refusing to answer directly 바카라사이트 union's accusation that 바카라사이트 cuts are funding 바카라사이트 build-up.

Jill Jones, Natfhe national chairwoman for higher education and a lecturer at Westminster, said: "To put money into reserves at a time when 바카라사이트 university is facing a funding cut seems like sheer lunacy. It will mean more work for staff and is cheating 바카라사이트 students."

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said that 바카라사이트 cuts were necessary in order to set 바카라사이트 university on a sound financial footing and he said that no decisions had been made regarding compulsory staff redundancies. The academic council meets on March 20 and to consider 바카라사이트 strategic plan.