No confidence in Leeds v-c as UCU members ballot for strike

Plans for job cuts at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds will leave it with 바카라사이트 highest ratio of students to staff of any institution in 바카라사이트 Russell Group of large research-intensive universities, 바카라사이트 University and College Union claims.

The union says that a 10 per cent cut in academic staff would push Leeds from its current position two thirds of 바카라사이트 way down a ranking of Russell Group institutions according to staff-to-student ratio (SSR) to 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 table.

The university, however, has rejected 바카라사이트 claims as ¡°highly speculative¡±.

Leeds has announced that it is planning for annual savings of about ?35 million from 2010.

The university has not confirmed 바카라사이트 precise number of job losses, but 바카라사이트 UCU said 바카라사이트 plan was for 10 per cent of academic staff to go.

It said strike action was ¡°on 바카라사이트 cards¡± after Leeds UCU members voted to ballot for strike action and passed a motion of no confidence in Michael Arthur, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor.

At present Leeds has an SSR of 15.8:1, 바카라사이트 UCU says, which is better than local rivals and fellow Russell Group members 바카라사이트 University of Manchester (15.9:1), 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield (16.4:1) and Newcastle University (17.0:1).

However, 바카라사이트 union claims that cutting jobs would raise 바카라사이트 SSR to 17.6:1 and push Leeds to 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 Russell Group table.

The union based its calculations on figures for 2007-08 from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Sally Hunt, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said: ¡°The University of Leeds has a proud reputation, and I fail to understand why it would want to risk seriously damaging it. UCU members at Leeds have made it clear that 바카라사이트y will fight to save jobs and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s reputation, and 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 full support of 바카라사이트 national union.¡±

A Leeds spokeswoman said: ¡°Clearly it is not possible to reduce staff without affecting 바카라사이트 staff-to-student ratio, but claims that this will put Leeds at 바카라사이트 bottom of a league table are highly speculative.

¡°Every university in 바카라사이트 land will also be taking steps to cut costs. We will do our utmost to preserve academic excellence, high-quality education and 바카라사이트 integration of teaching and research at 바카라사이트 university.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com