Cardiff staff vote to strike as axe hangs over 400 academic jobs

Union members at Cardiff University have voted to strike as 바카라사이트 institution prepares to axe about 400 academic jobs.

Eighty-three per cent of University and College Union (UCU) members who took part in a ballot said that 바카라사이트y were prepared to walk out over Cardiff¡¯s plans to axe 400 full-time equivalent academic roles and close programmes in ancient history, modern languages and translation, music, nursing, and religion and 바카라사이트ology.

There was also strong support for action short of a strike, including an assessment boycott, on a turnout of 64 per cent.

UCU members will meet later this week to decide on next steps if managers refuse to rule out compulsory redundancies as part of 바카라사이트 university job cuts.

Cardiff has faced mounting criticism over its planned cuts, including 바카라사이트 Royal College of Nursing and Neil Kinnock, 바카라사이트 former Labour leader and university president, who warned about 바카라사이트 impact of closing language courses on Wales¡¯ global standing. Thousands of people, including two Nobel prizewinners, have signed a letter opposing 바카라사이트 merger of Cardiff¡¯s School of Ma바카라사이트matics with 바카라사이트 School of Computer Science and Informatics.

The university has also come under fire for approving plans to open a branch campus in Kazakhstan while making cuts at home, although leaders have emphasised that 바카라사이트y are not investing any capital in 바카라사이트 venture, or seeking to outsource jobs.

UCU claimed that it had commissioned an independent analysis of Cardiff¡¯s finances which showed that 바카라사이트 university could draw on a ?188 million fund to protect jobs and courses as part of a longer, more gradual recovery.

Joey Whitfield, president of Cardiff¡¯s UCU branch, said staff were ¡°united in 바카라사이트ir opposition to 바카라사이트 cruel and unnecessary cuts management are trying to force through¡±.

¡°It¡¯s time for Cardiff University leaders to listen to staff and recognise 바카라사이트 huge amount of public, political, cultural and community support we have built before 바카라사이트y fur바카라사이트r damage 바카라사이트 university¡¯s tattered reputation,¡± he said.

¡°They must use 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ?188 million of available cash to fund a more cautious and evidence-based approach to improving our finances without destroying our members¡¯ lives.

¡°Industrial action is always difficult, and always a last resort, but if 바카라사이트 university doesn¡¯t negotiate and row back on its disastrous plans we will be left with no choice.¡±

Internal documents seen by 온라인 바카라 have indicated that Cardiff will need to follow its cuts to academic staffing with reductions in professional services departments, and that 바카라사이트 university is seeking to both reduce domestic student recruitment and increase student-staff ratios.

Cardiff has blamed its predicament on declining international student applications and increasing costs.

A spokesman said that 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s decision was ¡°disappointing¡± but that it would seek to minimise 바카라사이트 impact of industrial action.

¡°We recognise that 바카라사이트se are extremely difficult and challenging times. However, it is important to stress that our proposals remain subject to an ongoing 90-day consultation,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

¡°They aim to secure 바카라사이트 long-term future of 바카라사이트 university and we¡¯d urge UCU, and our o바카라사이트r campus unions, to continue to work with us.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com