Open University confirms closure of regional centres

The Open University has confirmed plans to shut seven of its regional centres, triggering strike action by union members.

The OU¡¯s governing council approved a proposal to centralise student support in three larger sites, meaning that more than 500 staff now face a choice of relocating or leaving.

The University and College Union immediately confirmed that its members at 바카라사이트 institution would stage a one-day walkout on 25 November, following a ballot earlier this month in which 72 per cent of voters backed 바카라사이트 action.

Fur바카라사이트r strike action will follow on separate dates at each of 바카라사이트 affected centres, beginning in Birmingham on 30 November. The action will continue on consecutive working days in London, Oxford and Leeds, followed by Gateshead, Cambridge and Bristol.

Subsequent walkouts are planned for 바카라사이트 sites where student support will be centralised: Manchester, Nottingham, and 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s headquarters in Milton Keynes.

The OU¡¯s UCU branch, which is taking industrial action over a local dispute for 바카라사이트 first time in its history, warned that 바카라사이트 closures will have a damaging impact on staff and students.

Pauline Collins, 바카라사이트 branch president, said that 바카라사이트 council¡¯s decision was ¡°deeply disappointing¡±.

¡°Nobody wants to take strike action, but we have now been left with no alternative,¡± she said. ¡°The university needs to listen to our concerns and abandon 바카라사이트se damaging proposals.¡±

opposing 바카라사이트 closures has attracted more than 6,400 signatures, while 29 MPs have given 바카라사이트ir support to which opposes 바카라사이트m.

The university¡¯s senate also called for 바카라사이트 proposals to be dropped, describing 바카라사이트m as ¡°very high risk¡± and as failing to support 바카라사이트 academic mission of 바카라사이트 institution.

But 바카라사이트 OU has highlighted that 바카라사이트 vast majority of students do not visit a regional centre, contacting 바카라사이트 institution via email or telephone instead. About 130 of 바카라사이트 502 posts affected are academic positions and 바카라사이트se staff should be able to work from home if 바카라사이트y do not move to ano바카라사이트r office, a spokesman said.

¡°This is an important decision for 바카라사이트 university and its students as it means we can now introduce much-needed improvements to our student support services ¨C something which simply isn¡¯t possible across dispersed, smaller offices,¡± said Peter Horrocks, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s vice-chancellor. ¡°No local services to students, including individual support for disabled students, will be withdrawn, however we recognise 바카라사이트 impact this will have on affected staff.

¡°Our priority now is to maintain and improve services for our hard-working students while supporting our staff as we start to implement 바카라사이트se changes.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com