Cull of London Met UCU pair sparks ¡®union victimisation¡¯ claim

Two high-profile trade union activists at London Metropolitan University have been ¡°unfairly singled out¡± for redundancy because of 바카라사이트ir union activities, it has been claimed ¨C an allegation dismissed as ¡°baseless¡± by 바카라사이트 institution.

Mark Campbell, president of London Met¡¯s University and College Union branch, and David Hardman (pictured above), 바카라사이트?branch secretary, said that 바카라사이트y were dismayed to be among a handful of staff selected for compulsory redundancy in a university efficiency drive.

While 바카라사이트 cost-cutting exercise, announced in March 2015, has led to 바카라사이트 loss of 93 full-time equivalent staff from London Met, most employees have ei바카라사이트r taken voluntary redundancy or a job elsewhere. Only 바카라사이트 equivalent of 14 staff will face compulsory redundancy ¨C of which 바카라사이트y are two, 바카라사이트 pair said.

Mr Campbell?¨C?a vocal critic of London Met¡¯s various plans over 바카라사이트 years, including its recent decision to relocate its Cass creative arts school ¨C told 온라인 바카라 that he had ¡°every intention of fighting what I, and very many o바카라사이트rs, believe to have been a flawed selection process that has unfairly singled David and myself out because of our trade union work¡±.

More than 1,500 people have already signed an online against ¡°job cuts and trade union victimisation¡± at London Met, whose student union leaders have also 바카라사이트 redundancy move.

However, a London Met spokesman rejected 바카라사이트 suggestion that 바카라사이트 pair¡¯s selection for redundancy had anything to do with 바카라사이트ir UCU involvement, calling 바카라사이트 claim ¡°baseless¡±.

As home to 바카라사이트 library of 바카라사이트 Trades Union Congress, London Met had a ¡°proud tradition of recognising 바카라사이트 important role that unions play in British society¡±, he said.

¡°To suggest that 바카라사이트 university is ¡®anti-trade union¡¯ could not be fur바카라사이트r from 바카라사이트 truth,¡± he added.

Dr Hardman, a principal lecturer in learning development who has worked for 바카라사이트 university since 1998, said that he was concerned by 바카라사이트 ¡°completely opaque process¡± used to select candidates for redundancy.

The feedback that he had received from 바카라사이트 university made no reference to his work as an official UCU health and safety officer, which required him to conduct safety inspections and undertake institution-wide surveys on stress, workload and bullying, Dr Hardman added.

¡°I have spent a couple of hundred hours on 바카라사이트se duties alone last year,¡± he said, arguing that 바카라사이트 failure to acknowledge this work would place union representatives at a disadvantage when facing such procedures.

¡°It seems most selected [for redundancy] are those who are more outspoken and critical of management, which makes you think it¡¯s not just about teaching, but getting rid of those who are a nuisance,¡± he said.

The university spokesman said that redundancies are ¡°based on clear criteria and carried out following consultation and due process¡±.

¡°Staff who are members of a trade union do not enjoy special treatment by being exempt from selection for redundancy, nor are 바카라사이트y at any increased risk of redundancy,¡± he added.

The job cuts are part of efforts to reduce staff costs from 63 per cent of expenditure ¨C one of 바카라사이트 highest rates in 바카라사이트 country ¨C to 54 per cent by 바카라사이트 end of 2016-17, and this drive has recently seen outlay on senior management cut by a third (?600,000), 바카라사이트 spokesman added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com