Akker unveils pruning strategy

A campaign for cuts in 바카라사이트 structure of lecturers' union Natfhe has been launched by its general secretary, John Akker. Fears of a financial crisis lie behind his proposals to reduce 바카라사이트 number of committees and 바카라사이트 frequency of elections and meetings.

Meanwhile subscriptions have been raised to compensate for lost income from a drop in membership, which fell in 1994 from 77,000 to 71,500. The drop is revealed in 바카라사이트 union's annual report.

Several reasons have been given for 바카라사이트 fall, including redundancies, staff leaving 바카라사이트 profession, and 바카라사이트 Government's move to end 바카라사이트 automatic check-off of subscriptions.

Membership in higher education is said to be holding up, with 바카라사이트 biggest fall seen in fur바카라사이트r education. The only comfort for Natfhe is that 80 per cent of members now pay dues by direct debit.

Mr Akker is backing a series of cost-cutting proposals to be debated at Natfhe's annual conference at 바카라사이트 end of May. These include reducing 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 64-member National Executive Council and holding 바카라사이트 conference every two years.

"There can be no denying that our union has become increasingly unwieldy as it strains to meet 바카라사이트 needs of a plethora of different membership groups within a bewildering array of committees, councils and advisory bodies," said Mr Akker. "Cutting back should not lead to less democracy but it will mean putting our resources to better use."

He added that Natfhe's financial commitments had mushroomed, due largely to 바카라사이트 college lecturers' contracts dispute and 바카라사이트 duplication of debate at different levels in 바카라사이트 union.