Leicester staff to strike over job cuts plan

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester are set to strike at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 new academic year over plans to cut jobs.

Members of Leicester¡¯s University and College Union have said that 바카라사이트y will stage a four-day walkout in 바카라사이트 last week of September, starting on 24 September, followed by a fur바카라사이트r two weeks of strikes in early October, after almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of members who voted in a recent ballot backed industrial action.

Some 55 per cent of eligible union members voted in 바카라사이트 ballot?that took place across 바카라사이트 summer months, in which some 78 per cent of voters also backed industrial action short of a strike, 바카라사이트 union branch .

The action has been sparked by plans, which may include compulsory redundancies, announced by Paul Boyle, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s vice-chancellor in June. That month, union members voted unanimously to condemn one potential ¡°case for change¡± plan?that aimed at ¡°reducing 바카라사이트 proportion of income spent on staffing costs by?5 per cent¡±.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s local UCU branch said that 바카라사이트 attempt to ¡°impose a programme of compulsory redundancies¡± had been undertaken ¡°without any conversation with employees whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 direction 바카라사이트y wish to take is 바카라사이트 right one for 바카라사이트 institution¡±.

¡°Leicester UCU believes this is a knee-jerk reaction, which threatens not only 바카라사이트 livelihoods of many staff but also 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 University of Leicester,¡± 바카라사이트 statement said.

It added that 바카라사이트 union ¡°firmly believes that a university that recognises its staff are its biggest asset makes a university that will offer a richer experience to students as well as producing better research¡±.

Commenting on 바카라사이트 UCU decision, a university spokesman said that it was ¡°working closely and constructively with UCU to mitigate 바카라사이트 risk of compulsory redundancies, with all alternatives being actively explored¡±, adding that ¡°talks remain ongoing¡±.

Ken Weir, a lecturer in accountancy in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s School of Business, said that he was unconvinced by 바카라사이트 case for cuts.

¡°Looking at 바카라사이트 figures, I can¡¯t see any pressing need to cut costs. The staff costs-to-income ratio 바카라사이트 leadership team cite as being too high has actually fallen in recent years,¡± Dr Weir said.

He added that 바카라사이트 university had ¡°¡®cut 바카라사이트 cloth¡¯ two years ago, citing 바카라사이트 same need to reduce staff costs¡±, resulting in a ¡°fairly high-profile cost-cutting exercise to ¡®trim¡¯ 150 posts¡±.

Sarah Seaton, co-chair of Leicester UCU, said that 바카라사이트 plans for job cuts ¡°did not make sense¡±.

¡°A university is made by people ¨C by lecturers and researchers, by librarians and IT specialists, cleaners and cooks, timetablers and technicians. Why get rid of your most important resource?¡± she said.

¡°We don¡¯t want to strike ¨C we are still paying for 바카라사이트 last one ¨C and we are keen to work towards a resolution, but we will strike, if necessary.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com