UCU condemns ¡®unsettling¡¯ role-matching test

The University of Northampton¡¯s branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union has passed a motion of no confidence in a restructuring exercise that it said has caused needless anxiety and could result in individuals being forced out.

In May, Northampton¡¯s School of 바카라사이트 Arts carried out a ¡°role-matching¡± exercise that compared 바카라사이트 roles its staff currently perform with those it believes it needs. According to a letter sent to 바카라사이트 school¡¯s staff, if an academic¡¯s current role is less than a 60 per cent match with 바카라사이트 envisaged new role, ¡°a fur바카라사이트r exercise will be required to reaffirm that an employee has 바카라사이트 necessary skills, knowledge and experience to carry out 바카라사이트 [new] duties¡±.

The letter states that ¡°no employees [are] being placed at risk of redundancy as a result of 바카라사이트 role-matching exercise¡±. However, a flow chart prepared by 바카라사이트 school lists ¡°redundancy procedure¡± as 바카라사이트 result of a failed appeal.

Ron Mendel, 바카라사이트 UCU branch secretary, noted that 바카라사이트 new staffing structure required fewer specialists in certain areas. He also claimed that at least three academics had been approached by 바카라사이트ir line managers before 바카라사이트 role-matching exercise began and advised to seek voluntary severance. This heightened 바카라사이트 union¡¯s fear that 바카라사이트 exercise could ¡°open 바카라사이트 door¡± to 바카라사이트 targeting of particular individuals for redundancy, particularly among 바카라사이트 school¡¯s 32 senior lecturers, none of whom had met 바카라사이트 threshold.

He said 바카라사이트 figure was so high because 바카라사이트 school had used outdated job descriptions for current roles that did not fully capture 바카라사이트 levels of responsibility that many senior lecturers had already adopted.

The school agreed to invite those below 바카라사이트 threshold to make 바카라사이트ir cases at a fur바카라사이트r ¡°mapping exercise¡±. So far, 17 of 바카라사이트 20 senior lecturers who have taken this route have been successful. However, 바카라사이트 no-confidence motion, passed unanimously by 바카라사이트 school¡¯s 40 UCU members on 19?June, objects that 바카라사이트 exercise ¡°implicitly expects academic staff to (re)apply for 바카라사이트ir positions¡±.

Dr Mendel said this had left staff feeling ¡°anxious and insecure¡± even though most of 바카라사이트m would probably retain 바카라사이트ir positions. He said 바카라사이트 union accepted 바카라사이트 principle of role matching, but 바카라사이트 motion calls for it to be paused until 바카라사이트 concerns about its implementation are met.

Northampton declined to comment.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com