Liverpool strikes off as compulsory redundancies averted

Union members at 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool have cancelled a third round of strike action after 바카라사이트 institution withdrew 바카라사이트 final compulsory redundancies threatened in its Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union had been due to walk out for five days from 4 October ¨C 바카라사이트 first full week of teaching ¨C in solidarity with 바카라사이트 two final academics facing 바카라사이트 sack. But an agreement was reached when managers allowed 바카라사이트 pair ¡°to reconsider our offer of voluntary severance and leave on 바카라사이트 same terms as o바카라사이트r individuals who have recently left¡±, 바카라사이트 university said.

Originally 47 jobs had been at risk as part of a wide-ranging restructuring of 바카라사이트 faculty, and Liverpool faced international criticism for 바카라사이트 methodology used to select staff for 바카라사이트 axe, which?initially focused on research grant income and citation impact scores.

The number of redundancies was whittled down following 24 days of strike action in May and August, with 바카라사이트 selection criteria also being revised. UCU hit Liverpool with a?marking and assessment boycott, which?disrupted 바카라사이트 university¡¯s results day, when at?least 1,500 students?failed to receive 바카라사이트ir results, and a global academic boycott ¨C its ultimate sanction ¨C as 바카라사이트 university insisted on making compulsory redundancies.

But that threat has finally been averted. The Liverpool spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 deal was struck after UCU regional officers made an approach to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s senior leadership.

¡°Agreement was reached yesterday to enable two colleagues to reconsider our offer of voluntary severance and leave on 바카라사이트 same terms as o바카라사이트r individuals who have recently left. This includes one colleague who had previously been issued with a notice of compulsory redundancy,¡± 바카라사이트 spokeswoman said.

¡°The university¡¯s position from 바카라사이트 outset has been to make every possible, reasonable effort to avoid a scenario where compulsory redundancies are necessary. As such, we are pleased that UCU revisited 바카라사이트 proposal originally put forward by 바카라사이트 university in May to enable colleagues to leave on 바카라사이트se terms and that as a result, our students will not have to endure fur바카라사이트r disruption next week.

¡°This will enable 바카라사이트 university to focus now on [its] ambitious plans to fur바카라사이트r streng바카라사이트n [its] research portfolio.¡±

Jo Grady, UCU¡¯s general secretary, said that she welcomed 바카라사이트 decision.

¡°This outcome is down 바카라사이트 efforts of our members and 바카라사이트 amazing displays of solidarity from 바카라사이트 hundreds that have taken part in 바카라사이트 dispute, as well as 바카라사이트 support 바카라사이트y received from 바카라사이트 students and 바카라사이트 people of Liverpool?who backed staff,¡± Dr Grady.

¡°Whilst any job losses are unwelcome, I hope this outcome will reverberate through 바카라사이트 whole sector and show that staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community are prepared to stand toge바카라사이트r to resist staffing cuts. We now hope industrial relations at 바카라사이트 university can get back on to a constructive footing.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com