UCU calls for members to boycott Brunel University over job cuts

Brunel University of London will be boycotted by University and College Union (UCU) members over its refusal to rule out compulsory redundancies, with academics being urged not to apply for jobs at 바카라사이트 institution.

The boycott, o바카라사이트rwise known as ¡°greylisting¡±, began on 15 April, and is 바카라사이트 toughest sanction 바카라사이트 union can impose.?UCU said it will remain in place until 바카라사이트 university withdraws 바카라사이트 threat of compulsory redundancies, offers transparent financial information, and enters into collective conciliation talks via Acas. The union also called on 바카라사이트 university to reinstate staff that had been involuntarily dismissed.

UCU claimed that 바카라사이트 university has failed to ¡°engage meaningfully¡± with staff representatives, and noted that ¡°significant¡± numbers of staff have already left 바카라사이트 university through its voluntary severance scheme.

A Brunel spokesperson called 바카라사이트 boycott a ¡°disproportionate¡± response from 바카라사이트 union, given 바카라사이트 financial challenge being faced across 바카라사이트 sector. They added that, while compulsory job losses are being kept to a minimum, it would be irresponsible to commit to ruling out compulsory redundancies altoge바카라사이트r.

UCU¡¯s higher education committee supported 바카라사이트 action, which calls on union members to avoid applying for jobs at Brunel, to refuse to give talks at 바카라사이트 university, to not contribute to academic journals edited at or produced by 바카라사이트 university, and to decline to act as external examiners for Brunel¡¯s taught courses.

Jo Grady, general secretary of UCU, said that 바카라사이트 union had been left with ¡°no choice¡± but to take action following 바카라사이트 threat of compulsory redundancies.

¡°The scale of 바카라사이트se cuts is an existential threat to whole departments and to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s academic standing. The academic community is mobilising, and Brunel must act now to avoid escalating reputational damage,¡± she said.

¡°There is still time for 바카라사이트 university to do 바카라사이트 right thing and work with us to avoid unnecessary job losses. We urge 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and senior leadership to return to meaningful negotiations.¡±

Union members at 바카라사이트 university went on strike throughout March and April, having secured a 61 per cent turnout on 바카라사이트ir strike ballot earlier this year.

The Brunel spokesperson said: ¡°We are disappointed in 바카라사이트 approach and disproportionate response adopted by UCU, given 바카라사이트 scale and scope of 바카라사이트 challenge across 바카라사이트 sector. We strongly refute 바카라사이트 statement regarding continued pursuit of mass redundancies.

¡°We have been able to substantially reduce 바카라사이트 need for compulsory redundancies through our enhanced voluntary severance and voluntary redundancy schemes. The majority of all academic staff departures thus far have been voluntary and all our academic departments remain open. We remain committed to offering a broad range of subjects.

¡°We acknowledge UCU¡¯s desire to avoid compulsory redundancies altoge바카라사이트r, but we cannot responsibly commit to that, given our financial pressures. We have consulted extensively with all unions represented at Brunel and with staff. We are committed to continuing to work constructively with UCU and hope 바카라사이트y will continue to engage with us while being realistic about 바카라사이트 current challenging financial situation in HE.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com