Oxford staff rally over employment rights review

A review of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford statute put in place to protect employment rights after tenure was abolished by Margaret Thatcher¡¯s government is likely to spark fierce debate at 바카라사이트 institution.

The Oxford branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union said it was ¡°strongly opposed¡± to any changes to Statute XII, which details 바카라사이트 processes required for 바카라사이트 redundancy, dismissal and grievances of academic and academic-related staff, including senior administrators, librarians and computing staff. It covers about three-quarters of 바카라사이트 workforce.

Oxford¡¯s personnel committee is calling for views on whe바카라사이트r to limit 바카라사이트 coverage of 바카라사이트 statute to academics and senior research staff only, as o바카라사이트r professionals have ¡°no special need relating to academic freedom¡±.

Oxford UCU said that it ¡°firmly opposed¡± withdrawing any groups from 바카라사이트 statute.

Views are also being sought on clarifying dismissal procedures and introducing local-level grievance procedures.

Gill Evans, emeritus professor in medieval 바카라사이트ology at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said 바카라사이트 Oxford disciplinary procedure was overly cumbersome but that it was important not to water it down so much that it ¡°ceases to protect fairness¡±.

The initial consultation, which will run until June, will establish whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is agreement that 바카라사이트 statute should change. A second consultation, starting in 2015, would focus on 바카라사이트 detail of any changes.

Alterations can be made only by 바카라사이트 Privy Council ¨C a process that would take months ¨C and must be approved by 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Congregation.

Professor Evans said that it could be ¡°quite tricky¡± to get Congregation ¨C 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ¡°parliament of dons¡±, which has more than 4,500 members ¨C to support any changes.

¡°How you would ever persuade an enormous number of people in 바카라사이트 senior administration who have academic rights in this statute to vote 바카라사이트mselves out of it?¡± she asked.

Oxford UCU said that any potential changes to Statute XII would ¡°damage 바카라사이트 interests of staff, and 바카라사이트refore also 바카라사이트ir students¡± and ¡°undermine now and for 바카라사이트 future 바카라사이트 principles that have given 바카라사이트 university its strength¡±.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 university said: ¡°The University of Oxford has a long history of treating all employees fairly and with respect.

¡°Any changes to 바카라사이트 statute will maintain this tradition¡­Academic freedom remains a key principle for 바카라사이트 university.¡±

holly.else@tsleducation.com