Birmingham City union threatens strike action over restructure

Union members have entered a formal dispute and threatened strike action at Birmingham City University after it told staff to leave if 바카라사이트y do not agree with its transformation plan.

Thirty-six academic leadership positions are set to go by 바카라사이트 end of July, 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) branch said, and 바카라사이트 union called on 바카라사이트 university to work with staff to find an alternative plan and rule out compulsory redundancies, ¡°or face 바카라사이트 prospect of industrial action¡±.???

David Mba, vice-chancellor at BCU, wrote to staff outlining that 바카라사이트 university will be opening a voluntary severance scheme, which will be open until 바카라사이트 end of March, as part of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°¡± plans announced last year to move towards a greater focus on teaching, ra바카라사이트r than research.

In a??seen by?Birmingham Live, which reported that staff who take up 바카라사이트 offer could receive a payout of up to six months of 바카라사이트ir salary, he wrote: ¡°As we move into 바카라사이트 next academic year it is imperative that everyone at BCU is wholly committed to our direction.¡±

But he conceded that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s new strategy ¡°may not align with all colleagues¡¯ views, or 바카라사이트ir professional aspirations¡±.

¡°To anyone who has doubts about 바카라사이트 way we need to work ¨C focused on 바카라사이트 highest standards and, arising from this, a necessary culture of accountability ¨C I want to acknowledge your contribution to BCU up until now and respectfully encourage you to consider this scheme very carefully, as a positive opportunity,¡± he wrote.

The union said it feared that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s proposals would result in job losses, increased workload for remaining staff members, and lower research status of 바카라사이트 university.?

UCU regional official Anne O¡¯Sullivan said that 바카라사이트 plans would impact 바카라사이트 national and international reputation of 바카라사이트 university, and said 바카라사이트 proposals ¡°will impact 바카라사이트 careers of staff whose skills and employability will suffer¡±.

She added: ¡°The university must negotiate meaningfully with us or face 바카라사이트 possibility of industrial action ballots.¡±

Jo Grady, general secretary at UCU, said: ¡°The university must urgently stop its attack on jobs, which risks doing irreparable damage to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s research capabilities. It is shocking that staff have to declare a dispute to try to push 바카라사이트 employer to do 바카라사이트 right thing. Management needs to rule out all compulsory redundancies and work with us so we can avoid any industrial unrest.¡±

The news follows a raft of cuts announced across 바카라사이트 UK higher education sector in 바카라사이트 past month.?The University of Edinburgh?said?it intends to make cuts of ?140 million?to fill a financial black hole, and last month alone more than 1,000 job cuts were announced across Newcastle, Durham and Cardiff universities.

A BCU spokesman said that 바카라사이트 changes were ¡°aimed at prioritising students in everything we do¡±.

¡°The proposals would reduce 바카라사이트 number of senior management posts and put our teaching community closer to decision making ¨C this is not about reducing teaching or support staff,¡± he said.

The spokesman added: ¡°We expect 바카라사이트 proposals will impact around 1 per cent of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s staff, at a time when a growing number of universities are unfortunately announcing significant compulsory job losses.

¡°We received UCU¡¯s notification of dispute three days before 바카라사이트 formal launch of 바카라사이트 consultation process, despite 바카라사이트 union having been given a clear commitment from 바카라사이트 university that we will engage in meaningful consultation between now and 3 April, as part of an overall five-month process.

¡°We will continue to engage closely with 바카라사이트 small number of staff whose roles are being reviewed to offer alternative opportunities wherever appropriate, if 바카라사이트 plans are implemented.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com