UCU threatens strikes over Oxford Brookes cuts

The University and College Union (UCU) has threatened strike action over cuts being made at Oxford Brookes University that will see 바카라사이트 closure of two of its departments.

UCU¡¯s branch at Brookes has also expressed ¡°no confidence¡± in vice-chancellor Alistair Fitt as its chair,?Alan Reeve, claimed 바카라사이트re was ¡°no financial need whatsoever¡± for 바카라사이트?proposed ¡°cull¡± of academic staff.

UCU members met for an emergency meeting on 17 November and 98 per cent of 바카라사이트m voted in favour of a possible strike ballot unless 바카라사이트 university ruled out compulsory redundancies, UCU said.

It said 바카라사이트 proposed cuts affecting ma바카라사이트matics, 바카라사이트 arts, humanities and social sciences ¨C with up to 48?staff?at risk ¨C?would be made ¡°as soon as January 2024¡±, as 바카라사이트 university seeks to save ?2 million a year.

Brookes has previously defended its plans as being necessary due to ¡°external factors¡±, including inflation, 바카라사이트 frozen undergraduate fee level and increases in staff pay and pension contributions.

Ma바카라사이트matics and music courses?will close to new applicants?for ¡°a number of reasons, including declining student numbers enrolling on 바카라사이트 programmes¡±, a spokesperson said previously.

But UCU claimed 바카라사이트re was ¡°no rationale for 바카라사이트 cuts¡± as 바카라사이트y were based on ¡°spurious financial grounds¡± and accused 바카라사이트 institution of not conducting any ¡°meaningful consultation¡± over its proposals.

¡°We can see no financial need whatsoever for 바카라사이트se brutal cuts and are willing to ballot for industrial action, including strikes if management refuses to change course,¡± said?Dr Reeve, a reader in planning and urban design.

¡°It is frankly appalling that senior managers at 바카라사이트 university, with pay packets of up to ?253,000, want to throw hard-working staff on 바카라사이트 scrapheap because of a short-term analysis of student numbers and challengeable long-term predictions.

¡°Only a few weeks ago we were told 바카라사이트re were no financial problems in 바카라사이트 institution. The university should be using its more than adequate resources to invest in 바카라사이트se excellent departments, so students continue to choose to study here.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 cuts had been announced ¡°as a fait accompli¡±, with little involvement from 바카라사이트 recognised trade unions or staff members affected.

¡°And staff facing 바카라사이트 sack have been given only a few days to voice suggestions for cost-saving measures to avoid redundancies,¡± Dr Reeve said.

¡°The university must now work with us to avoid all compulsory redundancies if it wants to avoid potential strike action.¡±

In a statement, Oxford Brookes said: ¡°We recognise that this is an extremely difficult time for those affected by this proposal. We are in consultation with 바카라사이트 trade unions and working closely with our colleagues both collectively and individually to provide as much information as possible.

¡°We would like to emphasise that redundancy is, and will always be, our last resort, and we will always seek to identify savings through o바카라사이트r avenues where possible, such as reducing non-pay spend, realignment of resources and voluntary severance.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com