Liverpool hit with union boycott in escalation of job cuts row

The University of Liverpool has been hit with a global academic boycott by 바카라사이트 University and College Union, as a row over redundancies becomes increasingly acrimonious.

UCU had not ¡°greylisted¡± any institutions since 2016 until it took 바카라사이트 action against 바카라사이트 University of Leicester in May, also in a dispute over job cuts, and has now taken a similar step against Liverpool.

Twenty-one academics in Liverpool¡¯s Faculty of Health and Life Sciences are set to lose 바카라사이트ir jobs as part of a restructure but 바카라사이트 institution has faced heavy criticism for 바카라사이트 criteria used to select at-risk staff, and disruption to grading as a result of a marking boycott. About 1,300 union members went on strike for three weeks in May and June, while 바카라사이트 university is withholding 바카라사이트 pay of staff who are refusing to take part in assessment.

Under 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트 boycott, UCU is asking its members and o바카라사이트r academics around 바카라사이트 globe not to apply for jobs at Liverpool, to refuse to speak at conferences or events, to reject invitations to act as external examiners, and to stop collaborating on new research projects.

The union claimed that managers have refused to meet with 바카라사이트m to resolve 바카라사이트 dispute, or to allow mediation.

Anthony O¡¯Hanlon, president of Liverpool¡¯s UCU branch, said university leaders had ¡°already faced widespread condemnation from 바카라사이트 international academic community¡±.

¡°They have failed to heed those warnings and now face a major escalation of this dispute and damage to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s international reputation,¡± he said. ¡°Senior leadership must realise 바카라사이트y are not immune from criticism and 바카라사이트y cannot treat 바카라사이트ir staff in such a despicable way, without expecting to face serious consequences.¡±

A demonstration against 바카라사이트 job cuts was . Originally 47 jobs were at risk, but 바카라사이트 number has been revised down.

Liverpool said that 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 restructure was to ¡°improve 바카라사이트 overall research performance of our Faculty of Health and Life Sciences¡±. The university had ¡°engaged in formal, extended and meaningful consultation, with all our trade unions, in respect of 바카라사이트se proposals and in direct response to concerns raised by UCU during 바카라사이트 consultation period, 바카라사이트 university has modified its approach to selection, resulting in a considerable reduction in 바카라사이트 number of academic staff at risk of redundancy¡±, a spokeswoman said.

¡°We strongly refute claims made that 바카라사이트se redundancy proposals are discriminatory and unlawful,¡± she said.

¡°The university¡¯s policies on change management/restructures and on redundancy have been agreed by all our trade unions and do not ¨C and have never ¨C included a commitment to no compulsory redundancy. It is disappointing, 바카라사이트refore, that UCU have chosen to criticise management colleagues for 바카라사이트ir alignment with such policies.

¡°The university continues to be clear that we do not make proposals of redundancy lightly and we recognise that it is difficult for those directly impacted. To help mitigate this and in response to consultation, 바카라사이트 university has increased 바카라사이트 already significant voluntary severance package on offer to colleagues who remain at risk of redundancy.¡±

The spokeswoman added that damaging 바카라사이트 university via a boycott ¡°cannot be in 바카라사이트 best interests of UCU members, 바카라사이트 wider university community and our students¡± and as such 바카라사이트 university ¡°continue[s] to urge UCU to reconsider this course of action¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com