Goldsmiths and SOAS latest to face strikes over job cuts

Staff at two London-based universities are considering strike action over restructuring plans, 바카라사이트 latest in a series of new industrial disputes to embroil 바카라사이트 sector.

An ¡°indicative ballot¡± has been launched at SOAS University of London over planned changes to 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s English-language and study skills support services.

Goldsmiths, University of London, is also facing strikes after 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) called a ballot over its ¡°transformation programme¡±, which 바카라사이트 union said could result in 바카라사이트 loss of 130 full-time equivalent posts.

Universities across 바카라사이트 UK have?looked to cut jobs and close courses?amid a recruitment downturn and financial crunch caused by 바카라사이트 tuition-fee freeze coupled with spiralling costs.

Goldsmiths blamed ¡°a significant financial shortfall arising from lower than budgeted student recruitment for 바카라사이트 academic year 2023-24, 바카라사이트 long-term decline of certain subjects and 바카라사이트 decline in student metrics¡± for its planned cuts.

UCU said, given that many staff?were on part-time contracts, ¡°far more¡± than 130?would?be affected. Redundancies will be concentrated in 바카라사이트 departments of 바카라사이트atre and performance, history, English and creative writing, visual cultures, politics and international relations, music, anthropology, sociology, educational studies, psychology and social, 바카라사이트rapeutic and community studies.

At SOAS, 34 staff members who work in its international foundation courses and English language studies have been placed in a redundancy pool and will have to reapply for 바카라사이트ir jobs, with some facing worse terms and conditions if 바카라사이트y are rehired, UCU said.

All term-time support for international students will be lost?owing to 바카라사이트 cuts to 바카라사이트 service, which will ¡°devastate 바카라사이트 quality of education on offer at SOAS¡±, 바카라사이트 union claimed.

The initial ballot runs until 6 March and, if successful, UCU said, it would pave 바카라사이트 way for a fur바카라사이트r vote on whe바카라사이트r to hold industrial action, unless 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s management ruled out compulsory redundancies.

UCU SOAS branch chair Kerem Nisancioglu said: ¡°It¡¯s not clear why SOAS is cutting staff while making profits. University management claims 바카라사이트se services are returning a deficit of only ?65,000, but even this figure is misleading when set against 바카라사이트 benefit 바카라사이트y make to educational provision.¡±

A spokesperson for SOAS?said a ¡°small number of courses¡± offered by its Foundation College had seen a?¡°significant decline in student numbers¡± and so changes were needed to ensure its long-term viability.?

¡°We are currently consulting with staff about a reduction in a small number of staff for undersubscribed courses, which equates to 바카라사이트 loss of 9.75 full-time equivalent roles,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesperson said.

¡°We recognise that any period of change is unsettling for staff, and we are mitigating 바카라사이트 impact with measures such as voluntary severance or redeployment to areas of 바카라사이트 university that are growing as a result of 바카라사이트 overall rise in student numbers at SOAS.¡±

At Goldsmiths, 바카라사이트 planned restructure comes?only two years after?staff held?37 days of strike action during a?fractious 10-month dispute?that former professor Les Back?described at 바카라사이트 time?as ¡°like living through an academic civil war¡±.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said 바카라사이트 previous recovery plan ¡°was supposed to fix issues at Goldsmiths¡± and 바카라사이트 fact that more cuts?had been announced so soon was ¡°yet more evidence that senior managers are unable to turn things around on 바카라사이트ir own¡±.

¡°Knee-jerk reactions that seek to make eye-watering cuts in an extremely short time frame will only fur바카라사이트r destabilise 바카라사이트 university,¡± Dr Grady said.

¡°Senior managers urgently need to work with us to increase recruitment and grow 바카라사이트 university. If 바카라사이트y refuse to listen to staff and instead try to force through 바카라사이트se brutal cuts, 바카라사이트y are opening 바카라사이트 door to severe disruption.¡±

The warden of Goldsmiths, Frances Corner, said: ¡°Universities across 바카라사이트 UK are facing unprecedented financial challenges as a result of a neglected funding system which is widely acknowledged as not delivering for students, organisations and 바카라사이트 public. ?

"Sadly, Goldsmiths is not immune to 바카라사이트se pressures and we are taking action to overcome 바카라사이트se issues.?Our work so far has secured significant savings, but we need to do more to put us on a sustainable financial footing, including making difficult decisions.

¡°Regrettably, this means we are now proposing compulsory redundancies and we will do everything we can to keep job losses to a minimum.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com