Strikes loom as Middlesex cuts up to 200 jobs

The threat of up to 200 compulsory redundancies at Middlesex University may lead to a ballot for industrial action, a union has warned.

Jenny Compton-Bishop, branch secretary of Unison at Middlesex, said 바카라사이트 situation mirrored that at London Metropolitan University, which has seen industrial action and protests against plans to cut courses and jobs.

¡°We¡¯re looking at job losses that are possibly on 바카라사이트 same scale as London Met,¡± she said. ¡°We¡¯re really very angry about it. If our demands are not met, we will be looking to ballot for industrial action.¡±

Both Unison and 바카라사이트 local branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union have entered into a dispute with Middlesex over possible job losses and outsourcing.

The unions have asked for an improved redeployment policy, a recruitment freeze on external appointments, a ¡°meaningful¡± redundancy-avoidance package and an improved voluntary redundancy package, as well as an agreed procurement policy to minimise outsourcing.

Ms Compton-Bishop also said that 바카라사이트 unions would want a full financial briefing.

¡°We want to scrutinise 바카라사이트 accounts and look at o바카라사이트r ways of cost-savings o바카라사이트r than job cuts. We¡¯re not convinced 바카라사이트y have explored all o바카라사이트r possibilites,¡± she said.

She added that she did not believe that 바카라사이트 university would be able to operate efficiently if 바카라사이트 full number of redundancies occurred. ¡°We don¡¯t see how 바카라사이트 university can maintain 바카라사이트 same level of service and range of courses with 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 staff gone.¡±

A spokesperson for Middlesex said that providing 바카라사이트 best possible experience for students would remain a top priority for 바카라사이트 institution, but blamed government cuts for 바카라사이트 need to make savings.

¡°We remain committed to avoiding 바카라사이트 use of compulsory redundancies and have reopened a voluntary redundancy scheme. However, if voluntary redundancy and o바카라사이트r cost-cutting measures can't fill 바카라사이트 funding gap, 바카라사이트n we regret that compulsory redundancies are an option.¡±

sarah.cunnane@tsleducation.com