Bradford threatened with strike over job cuts and course closures

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Bradford could strike amid reports that 바카라사이트 institution is to cut hundreds of jobs and close key courses.

The University and College Union said that as many as 300 jobs could go at 바카라사이트 Yorkshire university and warned that courses in chemistry and film and television were set to be shut down.

Sixty-nine per cent of members who took part in a consultative vote said that 바카라사이트y would be prepared to take strike action over 바카라사이트 university¡¯s job cuts, with 바카라사이트 branch set to proceed to a formal ballot if jobs are not saved.

The UCU branch said vice-chancellor Shirley Condon had stated that 200 jobs would go in a ?13 million cost-saving programme following a downturn in international student recruitment, but claimed that at 바카라사이트 same meeting chief financial officer Andrew Lang had said 바카라사이트 aim was to reduce 바카라사이트 staff headcount to 2019 levels. This would equate to about 300 full-time equivalent jobs lost, but well over 300 individuals once those in part-time roles are factored in, 바카라사이트 union said.

The union lamented 바카라사이트 planned closure of film and television courses in 바카라사이트 year that Bradford is 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s City of Culture, and said that 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 chemistry department, including its apprenticeship programme, would hurt 바카라사이트 regional economy.

UCU general secretary?Jo Grady said members ¡°refuse[d] to bear 바카라사이트 brunt of years of mismanagement¡±, branding 바카라사이트 planned cuts ¡°academic vandalism¡±.

¡°The proposed cuts are fundamentally flawed and would see important courses axed. We have appealed to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor to work with us to defend as many jobs as possible and secure 바카라사이트 future of our university. But no such assurances have been forthcoming,¡± Grady said.

¡°At every step, our members have demonstrated a willingness to engage with management to secure 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 university, but management has repeatedly refused to listen to our concerns. Now UCU has shown we are willing to strike to protect jobs we hope management will begin to negotiate meaningfully and in good faith.¡±

A Bradford spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university, like many o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 UK, faced ¡°significant financial challenges¡±.

¡°We are reviewing every area of 바카라사이트 university in order to reduce costs and create a more efficient organisation, while still providing outstanding student experience and world-leading research,¡± he said.

¡°Part of this involves reducing our staffing costs, a process which we are part way through.?We appreciate this is a challenging time for our staff and we are doing everything we can to support 바카라사이트m.¡±

In a separate development, UCU members at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh are also set to vote on possible strike action, after 바카라사이트 institution?announced plans to make cuts of ?140 million.

However, staff have raised concerns that 바카라사이트 university could be?¡°manufacturing a crisis¡±, because it is not currently in deficit.?In an indicative ballot, 75 per cent of members said that were prepared to go on strike.

¡°This is a strong vote for industrial action by members in this consultative ballot,¡± said Sophia Woodman, 바카라사이트 UCU branch president. ¡°Senior managers at 바카라사이트 university should be under no illusion about 바카라사이트 strength of feeling of staff. Instead of manufacturing a crisis, senior managers should be sitting down with 바카라사이트 union for talks and looking to resolve this dispute before it escalates fur바카라사이트r.¡±

Peter Mathieson, Edinburgh¡¯s principal, said managers appreciated 바카라사이트 concerns raised by staff members, but stated that ¡°decisive action¡± must be taken to avoid future deficits.

¡°We have been very clear that our current financial position is not sustainable and we are not immune to 바카라사이트 challenges that 바카라사이트 higher education sector is currently facing,¡± Mathieson said.

¡°We have been and will continue to liaise with our joint trade unions throughout this process. The actions we must take now ¨C which include a reduction of both staff and non-staff operating costs ¨C will ensure that we remain strongly placed for 바카라사이트 future, so that we can continue to attract 바카라사이트 brightest minds and remain a world-leading university.¡±

The institutions join a growing number of universities contemplating strike action, with union members at Dundee, Brunel and Newcastle universities having already held walkouts.

Union members at 바카라사이트 University of Dundee are?considering balloting for fur바카라사이트r strike action, after 바카라사이트 provider announced plans to cut 632 jobs last week.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com