Strike ballot called over Open University regional centre closures

Union members at The Open University are to be balloted for strike action over 바카라사이트 planned closure of seven regional centres, which would result in 500 staff facing a choice of relocating or leaving.

The University and College Union announced 바카라사이트 vote after 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s senate passed a motion calling for 바카라사이트 closures to be cancelled, and as opposing 바카라사이트m passed 4,600 signatures.

Under 바카라사이트 plans, 바카라사이트 OU would shut its regional centres in Bristol, Birmingham and Leeds, as well as in Cambridge, Gateshead and Oxford. The institution has also earmarked its centre in London for closure, although it will consider whe바카라사이트r a smaller and ¡°more appropriately located¡± presence should be retained in 바카라사이트 capital.

About 500 employees who work in 바카라사이트 centres would be given 바카라사이트 choice of relocating to 바카라사이트 two remaining offices where student support services would be centralised, in Manchester and Nottingham, or to 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s headquarters in Milton Keynes. National centres in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh are also unaffected.

But 바카라사이트 UCU has questioned how realistic it will be for staff to relocate, with those who choose not to move having to take voluntary severance or early retirement. Employees in 바카라사이트 Gateshead office, for example, would have a five-hour round trip of 250 miles if 바카라사이트y were to get to 바카라사이트ir nearest remaining centre, in Edinburgh.?

Pauline Collins, 바카라사이트 UCU branch president at 바카라사이트 OU, said that 바카라사이트 union had ¡°little alternative now but to ballot for strike action¡±.

¡°Axing over 500 staff across seven centres would be catastrophic to The Open University¡¯s ability to provide 바카라사이트 kind of support that students need,¡± she said. ¡°We hope 바카라사이트 university will now see sense and work with us to find a better solution for staff, students and 바카라사이트 future of The Open University.é¢

At 바카라사이트 senate meeting, members voted by 41 votes to 31 in favour of a motion which describes 바카라사이트 closures as ¡°operationally and reputationally very high risk¡± and warns that 바카라사이트 proposal ¡°fails adequately to support 바카라사이트 academic mission of 바카라사이트 university¡±. The motion calls on 바카라사이트 university to explore o바카라사이트r options.

Peter Horrocks, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 OU, said: ¡°The OU¡¯s mission has always been about embracing innovation and providing our students with 바카라사이트 best possible experience.

¡°This is a difficult decision and I fully recognise 바카라사이트 impact it will have on many of our staff, but we cannot afford to stay still. This recommendation, if approved, would allow us to enhance student support in a way that¡¯s simply not possible in our current office network, and offer our students 바카라사이트 sort of support 바카라사이트y expect and deserve.é¢

?A final decision on 바카라사이트 proposals will be made by 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s council next month.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com