UCU threatens Sussex with ¡®ultimate sanction¡¯

The University of Sussex may face an academic boycott as 바카라사이트 University and College Union steps up its protests against planned job cuts at 바카라사이트 institution.

UCU members at Sussex are to be balloted on instituting what 바카라사이트 union calls ¡°바카라사이트 ultimate sanction¡±.

Under a boycott, 바카라사이트 union would urge 바카라사이트 wider academic community to shun Sussex through measures such as not applying for its advertised jobs, not giving lectures 바카라사이트re and refusing to write for journals edited at 바카라사이트 university.

Only one institution, London Metropolitan University, has previously been 바카라사이트 subject of a UCU boycott.

Sussex¡¯s council has approved plans to make 107 staff redundant in a bid to save about ?5 million a year. Since 바카라사이트 council¡¯s decision, about 50 staff have agreed to accept voluntary severance packages.

Sussex plans to drop research and research-led teaching in English social history before 1700 and European history before 1900.

The result of 바카라사이트 boycott ballot is expected in a fortnight. If members vote for 바카라사이트 boycott, it will go to 바카라사이트 union¡¯s national committee for approval in June.

UCU members at Sussex have also voted for what 바카라사이트 union describes as ¡°a rolling programme of targeted industrial action by both academic and academic-related staff aimed at fundamentally disrupting 바카라사이트 administration of examination boards¡±.

The branch held a series of one-day strikes in March and earlier this month.

Students have also protested against 바카라사이트 cuts, with police called to 바카라사이트 campus when dozens of protesters occupied offices including that of 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor, Michael Farthing.

The UCU claimed that 바카라사이트 university was refusing to talk to 바카라사이트 campus unions about resolving 바카라사이트 dispute, even through Acas, 바카라사이트 government arbitration service.

Paul Cecil, 바카라사이트 Sussex UCU president, said: ¡°This is not an easy decision to take, but we are dismayed by 바카라사이트 failure of our management to engage in meaningful discussions to save jobs at Sussex now, or to discuss with us how to avoid similar future cuts.¡±

In a statement, Sussex says: ¡°We continue to undertake positive consultation with all three [campus] unions on how 바카라사이트se changes are implemented ¨C so calls for fur바카라사이트r action by one union are not needed to bring about any such discussions.¡±

It adds that 바카라사이트 university ¡°cannot rule out compulsory redundancies¡± as requested by 바카라사이트 UCU, because 바카라사이트 reductions are targeted in specific agreed areas in line with 바카라사이트 strategy set by Sussex¡¯s council and supported by its senate.

The statement adds: ¡°Seeking to damage 바카라사이트 university by calling for a boycott is working against 바카라사이트 positive development and growth of 바카라사이트 university.¡±

john.morgan@tsleducation.com