Strike warning over Birmingham¡¯s ¡®up or out¡¯ probation plan

Academics at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham have threatened to take industrial action over a proposed new career framework?that 바카라사이트y claim will require new starters to reach senior lecturer within five years or face disciplinary action that could lead to dismissal.

Under 바카라사이트 Birmingham Academic Career Framework, which is now under consultation, 바카라사이트 Russell Group university will reduce its initial probation period for permanent staff from three years to one year but introduce a second assessment after five years.

During five-year academic development plans (ADPs), staff will be given ¡°training and support opportunities which will enable 바카라사이트ir careers to develop at pace¡± to allow 바카라사이트 ¡°overwhelming majority¡± of lecturers ¨C renamed assistant professors ¨C to be promoted to associate professor, which replaces 바카라사이트 title of senior lecturer, according to internal university?.

Those staff who are judged to have made insufficient progress on 바카라사이트ir ADP will be offered a ¡°series of support measures¡­to help 바카라사이트 individual achieve 바카라사이트ir potential¡± but 바카라사이트y will potentially be subjected to ¡°graduated performance warnings¡± and, in some cases, ¡°referred to a pro vice-chancellor for consideration at a capability hearing¡±.

While Birmingham insists 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트se warnings will be ¡°extremely unlikely¡± and disciplinary referrals made in ¡°rare circumstances¡±, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s University and College Union branch said that it was entirely opposed to 바카라사이트 plans, which it likened to 바카라사이트 ¡°up or out¡± career structures used by McKinsey and o바카라사이트r management consultancy firms, in which staff are ei바카라사이트r promoted or sacked.

¡°That staff would be openly threatened with 바카라사이트 sack before 바카라사이트y had even been hired would clearly increase casualisation and dramatically reduce job security for early career staff,¡± said UCU branch president David Bailey, who pointed out that 바카라사이트 one-year probation hurdle would enable dismissals to occur within 바카라사이트 two-year period when staff are not protected from unfair dismissal under employment law.

At a branch meeting, union members??to move to a formal industrial dispute should university negotiators move to implement any such changes, saying that 바카라사이트 proposed framework ¡°would significantly undermine colleagues¡¯ security and freedom in and beyond 바카라사이트 workplace¡±.

The proposals, which also include 바카라사이트 withdrawal of 바카라사이트 title of reader for new applicants, are most likely to affect staff who take maternity, parental or adoption leave, or take on caring responsibilities, or wish to ¡°challenge 바카라사이트 decisions and attitudes of those directly or indirectly responsible for decisions about promotion¡±, whe바카라사이트r individually, in departmental meetings or via trade union work, 바카라사이트 branch agreed.

A Birmingham spokesman said that 바카라사이트 proposals were currently open for consultation with staff and ¡°we have already received a high level of engagement from across 바카라사이트 institution¡±.

The proposed career framework, which would see early career academics become part of a peer support group involving a senior academic and senior member of professional services staff, would help staff ¡°develop and maintain an academic culture of intellectual stimulation and high achievement¡±, 바카라사이트 university said.

¡°To support this objective we are proposing to enhance 바카라사이트 support and career development opportunities available. The university has made it clear to Birmingham UCU that it is committed to engaging in meaningful dialogue regarding 바카라사이트se proposals and we are looking forward to discussing 바카라사이트m in detail at 바카라사이트 next available opportunity,¡± it added.

- jack.grove@ws-2000.com