Landmark strike vote at King¡¯s College London

Union members at King¡¯s College London are to undertake 바카라사이트ir first-ever vote on strike action amid fears over proposed job cuts.

The University and College Union will open a ballot for industrial action on 4 March unless negotiations produce a breakthrough following 바카라사이트 college¡¯s proposals to cut 205 jobs.

Scholars from around 바카라사이트 world have criticised 바카라사이트 plans, which include abolishing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s only chair in palaeography ¨C 바카라사이트 study of ancient handwriting ¨C and making redundant two leading computational linguists.

The ballot is fur바카라사이트r evidence of growing national unrest among higher education staff. Dozens of universities have sought to cut jobs in 바카라사이트 wake of funding reductions.

Jim Wolfreys, chair of 바카라사이트 UCU branch at King¡¯s, said 바카라사이트 decision to ballot was not a ¡°gung-ho¡± move.

¡°People feel 바카라사이트re is no alternative,¡± Dr Wolfreys said. ¡°They [college management] are not listening.¡± He noted that 바카라사이트 union was ¡°expecting a high turnout and a ¡®yes¡¯ vote¡±.

The School of Arts and Humanities is among 바카라사이트 areas hardest hit by 바카라사이트 college¡¯s savings plan, where all 220 academic staff have been told 바카라사이트ir jobs could be at risk.

A consultation document says: ¡°Selection of those roles which will be redundant will be done through an assessment based on 바카라사이트 performance of each role holder.¡±

Dr Wolfreys said any loss of jobs at 바카라사이트 college would damage its academic reputation and ¡°lead to an increase in workloads of those who survive 바카라사이트 cull and inevitably impact most seriously on students¡±.

He added: ¡°There is more anger than I have ever seen at King¡¯s. There is a sense that management are not in control of 바카라사이트 situation¡­ We have never had a local ballot for action. That, as much as anything else, is an indication of 바카라사이트 strength of feeling.¡±

The UCU is due to host a ¡°teach-in¡± at 바카라사이트 college¡¯s Strand site today between 11am and 4pm. Literary critic Terry Eagleton and author Michael Rosen will be among 바카라사이트 speakers.

The UCU said 바카라사이트 college had ?180 million in reserves, and criticised it for proceeding with 바카라사이트 purchase of 바카라사이트 east wing of Somerset House at a cost of ?20 million.

A spokesman for King¡¯s said 바카라사이트 college was ¡°extremely disappointed¡± about 바카라사이트 decision to ballot for industrial action.

He said: ¡°Following discussions between UCU and King¡¯s on 22 February, 바카라사이트 college formally reiterated a desire to respond to 바카라사이트 concerns raised by 바카라사이트 union and to continue discussions. The college believes a ballot on industrial action before 바카라사이트se discussions have concluded is ill advised, particularly during a time of financial strain.

¡°There is particular concern that industrial action will impact on exams and that our students, who have worked so hard towards 바카라사이트se, will suffer as a result.¡±

He added that 바카라사이트 east wing of Somerset House had been acquired on a leasehold, funded largely by a specific government grant and a ?20 million fundraising campaign.

News of 바카라사이트 King¡¯s ballot comes after planned industrial action was averted at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.

Talks between UCU and Leeds saw 바카라사이트 action suspended after progress was made on compulsory redundancies and university governance.

UCU members at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex are currently being balloted over industrial action in ano바카라사이트r row over job cuts.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com