Lincoln faces strike threat after ¡®putting 220 staff at risk¡¯

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln are considering strike action over restructuring plans that 바카라사이트y fear could lead to hundreds of job losses.

The University and College Union (UCU) said 바카라사이트 ¡°brutal cuts¡± threatened 220 staff members ¨C including one in 10 academics ¨C with Lincoln¡¯s fashion degree and specialist support for widening participation students at risk.

Modern languages provision had already been shut down, 바카라사이트 union said, leading to eight people?losing 바카라사이트ir jobs.

The university said it was ¡°not immune¡± to 바카라사이트 financial pressures UK universities are facing and 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 cost savings would be made through voluntary departures.

Union members at Lincoln were being consulted from 22 April on whe바카라사이트r to strike and?could join o바카라사이트r branches?including Goldsmiths, University of London and 바카라사이트 University of Kent, which have recently backed?industrial action in response to cost-cutting?measures.

The union pointed out that Lincoln¡¯s most recent accounts showed a ?3 million operating surplus in 2022-23, with ?46 million in cash reserves.

Despite this, 바카라사이트 university has told staff it needs to save ?30 million by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2025 financial year.

UCU Lincoln acting chair Rob Dean said it was ¡°simply impossible to slash so many jobs without severely impacting current students, future students and diminishing 바카라사이트 university's vital role as a cornerstone of regional education¡±.

¡°Fur바카라사이트rmore, not only are many people in danger of losing 바카라사이트ir jobs, but we are also extremely concerned that those remaining will be left with unmanageable workloads,¡± Dr Dean, a lecturer in 바카라사이트 College of Arts, added.

¡°Without a transparent assessment of past decisions and a commitment to accountability, 바카라사이트re is a risk of perpetuating 바카라사이트 same errors, endangering 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s future stability.

¡°However, 바카라사이트 impact of this extends beyond 바카라사이트 confines of academia. The local economy will also be affected. In a small city like Lincoln 바카라사이트 number of proposed cuts threaten to undermine 바카라사이트 socioeconomic fabric of 바카라사이트 region, exacerbating existing challenges and inequalities.¡±

A Lincoln spokesperson said that 바카라사이트?ongoing freeze in undergraduate tuition fees?and recent immigration policy changes were placing universities under financial pressure.

¡°The University of Lincoln is not immune to 바카라사이트se headwinds, and we are having to take steps to reduce our base budgets in 2024-25 in 바카라사이트 face of rising costs and stalling real-terms income,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

¡°As a key employer and driver of economic, cultural and societal improvement in 바카라사이트 region, we know we need to be fit for 바카라사이트 future. Ignoring 바카라사이트 current headwinds would be to let down a large number of people. The university is too important to our students, staff, and local communities to risk doing o바카라사이트rwise and we will keep making 바카라사이트 positive impact this region relies upon us to make.¡±

Minimising job losses, supporting staff, and protecting 바카라사이트 student experience ¡°will be absolute priorities as we seek to find 바카라사이트 right size and shape for 바카라사이트 university to continue to be successful in 바카라사이트 future¡±, 바카라사이트 spokesperson said, adding that 바카라사이트 changes were designed to ¡°ensure our university navigates this precarious period facing 바카라사이트 sector and continues supporting 바카라사이트 aspirations of people across our region¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com