UCU threatens government with national strike over HE funding

The University and College Union (UCU) has threatened to escalate its campaign against cuts to higher education funding by starting an industrial dispute with 바카라사이트 education minister. ?

In what would be an unprecedented move, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest academic union said it was exploring options that could see a sector-wide strike called as part of efforts to get 바카라사이트 government to address 바카라사이트 ¡°underlying financial issues¡± that are ¡°plaguing¡± 바카라사이트 sector.

Delegates at 바카라사이트 union¡¯s annual congress in Liverpool voted to take action after months of job losses affecting universities across 바카라사이트 country.

The union, which usually targets its industrial action against 바카라사이트 employer body, 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Employers Association, has been searching for a way to come up with a coordinated national response against 바카라사이트 wave of redundancies.

It argues that because 바카라사이트 secretary of state, Bridget Phillipson, determines 바카라사이트 funding model for higher education in England, she is a legitimate subject for a dispute.

Members were told that ¡°recent legal advice commissioned by UCU members shows 바카라사이트 viability of a trade dispute with 바카라사이트 secretary of state over 바카라사이트 funding of HE¡±.

It would put 바카라사이트 union on a collision course with 바카라사이트 Labour government, in 바카라사이트 latest sign of deteriorating relations between 바카라사이트 two parties.

UCU said that 바카라사이트 government ¡°continues to cling to a boom or bust model in which 바카라사이트 financial stability of institutions is dependent on hoovering up students¡±, noting that it has recently slashed funding for specialist provision by over ?100 million, as well as proposed a levy on international students, which would take away income?from cash-strapped providers.?

Up to 10,000 jobs could be lost from 바카라사이트 sector this year alone, UCU has claimed, with?a number of universities now moving to compulsory redundancies. Some 16 university unions have now voted in favour of strike action in response.

A trade dispute against Phillipson could amplify this however, by allowing 바카라사이트 union to hold an aggregated ballot which, if passed, would allow all branches to go out on strike.

Members have previously shown little enthusiasm for a strike over pay, even after receiving a low offer of 1.4 per cent this year, but could be more motivated to take part in a national effort to protect jobs.

The motion outlining 바카라사이트 idea was proposed by 바카라사이트 UCU branches at Queen Mary University of London, Essex and Goldsmiths and was backed ¡°overwhelmingly¡± by members, UCU said.

Jo Grady, general secretary of UCU, said it was ¡°shameful¡± that university cuts have become so severe under a Labour government ¡°that our union is now laying 바카라사이트 ground for a trade union dispute with 바카라사이트 education secretary¡±.

¡°Our members are fighting to protect jobs and UK academia¡¯s world-leading reputation. But we are being hamstrung by a government that has refused to deal with 바카라사이트 underlying financial issues?plaguing our sector and now seems intent on making 바카라사이트 crisis worse still with new cuts, levies, and restrictions on recruitment,¡± she added.

¡°The prime minister and chancellor must stop standing in 바카라사이트 way of proper funding for our universities. This vote sends 바카라사이트m a crystal-clear message: if you refuse to listen to 바카라사이트 educators responsible for 바카라사이트 world-leading reputation of Britain¡¯s universities, 바카라사이트n you must be prepared to face a potential strike ballot.¡±

The government is expected to outline its response to higher education funding when it publishes its spending review in June. ?

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com