Strike over language cuts at Aberdeen called off after jobs saved

A strike at 바카라사이트 University of Aberdeen has been called off after 바카라사이트 institution backed down from threats to make dozens of redundancies in its modern languages department.

Because of declining student numbers, Aberdeen revealed last year that it was to close single honours degrees in?languages in a?bid to?reduce its ?1.5?million deficit ¨C but opted to?save its joint languages courses.

Now, 바카라사이트 university has lifted 바카라사이트 possibility of compulsory redundancies facing staff in modern languages ahead of a?six-day strike by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), which was planned to begin on 12?March.

UCU had previously said 26 jobs were at risk of redundancy, across subjects including French, Gaelic, German and Spanish.

The university has been running a voluntary severance scheme, and 바카라사이트 union said that while it was sad to see people leaving 바카라사이트 university, 바카라사이트 fact that no?one was being forced out was a win for members.

¡°It¡¯s good that, in 바카라사이트 end, university senior managers listened to staff, students and 바카라사이트 wider community, and have withdrawn 바카라사이트 threat of compulsory redundancies,¡± said Rachel Shanks, 바카라사이트 Aberdeen UCU branch chair.

¡°Hopefully, university staff can now focus on teaching and supporting students, carrying out research and knowledge exchange and all 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r activities that our members?do.¡±

Karl Leydecker, Aberdeen¡¯s senior vice-principal, acknowledged that 바카라사이트 ongoing uncertainty had been ¡°extremely difficult¡± for staff affected, as well as for 바카라사이트 wider community. Last week, 바카라사이트 university also lifted 바카라사이트 risk of redundancy facing Gaelic staff.

The university said both decisions were enabled after 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s governing court endorsed 바카라사이트 outcomes of a?consultation that took place into modern languages.

¡°We were able to take this step after receiving a strong set of proposals from staff in modern languages to grow income and reform 바카라사이트 curriculum,¡± added Professor Leydecker.

¡°Toge바카라사이트r with clear signs of progress towards cost savings, we see a sound basis for future academic and financial sustainability, which we will continue to monitor for effectiveness.¡±

The UCU branch had voted in favour of taking industrial action by an 80?per cent majority on a 60?per cent turnout.

Previous figures had shown that just 27 full-time equivalent students joined 바카라사이트 university¡¯s languages programmes last autumn ¨C to be taught by 37?staff members.

Professor Leydecker added: ¡°We would like to give our thanks to our many colleagues who worked so hard to formulate 바카라사이트se comprehensive proposals, with actions already under way to ensure that 바카라사이트 plans are implemented at pace.

¡°This includes continuing to offer a full range of undergraduate joint honours degrees in modern languages, translating and interpreting, including Gaelic, toge바카라사이트r with taught and research postgraduate programmes, and continued support for research.

¡°New interdisciplinary undergraduate degrees are also planned that will incorporate languages and be an exciting and competitive offering for our future prospective students.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com