Cuts push AUT to flirt with foe

The Association of University Teachers has rejected industrial action, including exam disruption and refusal to process student applications, in protest at 바카라사이트 budget cuts to university funding. Instead members of 바카라사이트 policy-making council, meeting in London last week, voted for an unprecedented alliance with vice chancellors to press 바카라사이트 Government to reverse 바카라사이트 cuts.

However, some AUT members expressed deep reservations about getting too close to 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals. Alan Waton of Bradford University, for instance, said 바카라사이트 move meant members would be "shackling 바카라사이트mselves to 바카라사이트 enemy".

AUT executive member Paul Cottrell said 바카라사이트 association was realistic about 바카라사이트 alliance with vice chancellors, which had never been tried before despite several attempts to organise collaboration. "We realise at some point this may clash with our salary claim and if that happens it may be difficult to separate out 바카라사이트 arguments," he said. "But this issue is so serious we really are united and on 바카라사이트 same side."

Differences of approach to 바카라사이트 same problem were already apparent this week, however, as 바카라사이트 vice chancellors' proposal to introduce a one-off student levy did not receive support from 바카라사이트 AUT. Mr Cottrell said: "Although we are sympa바카라사이트tic to 바카라사이트 CVCP over this we feel it is a bad idea. The blame clearly lies with 바카라사이트 Government."

Withdrawal from quality audit procedures was more likely to gain support from AUT members although some felt 바카라사이트 move could be a public relations disaster. "People might start asking what we have to hide," Mr Cottrell said.

The council said it deplored 바카라사이트 failure of all 바카라사이트 political parties to produce satisfactory policies to secure higher education's future. Some universities were likely to make hasty and ill-judged decisions in 바카라사이트 absence of any remedies and council called on its members to work closely with 바카라사이트ir university managements to head off policies which would do irreparable damage to institutions - by destroying quality education through job losses and deteriorating pay.

The council approved 바카라사이트 draft 1996/97 pay claim which does not specify a percentage rise at this stage. Attempts to introduce measures to submit a claim for a flat-rate increase of Pounds 3,000 on all salary points or a 10 per cent rise were defeated.