Union calls global academic boycott of Goldsmiths in jobs row

Goldsmiths, University of London has been hit with 바카라사이트 ultimate sanction of a global academic boycott by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main higher education union.

The institution became 바카라사이트 third to be ¡°greylisted¡± by 바카라사이트 University and College Union in 바카라사이트 space of 12 months as a long-running dispute over plans to cut up to 46?jobs ¨C 바카라사이트?subject of a three-week strike?that ended last month ¨C remains unresolved.

The boycott means that 바카라사이트 union is asking members and 바카라사이트 international academic community to refuse to speak at conferences or events at Goldsmiths?that do?not directly relate to core teaching duties and to turn down opportunities to act as external examiners for 바카라사이트 institution.

The UCU took 바카라사이트 action after claiming that management planned to ¡°rank and yank¡± academics based on 바카라사이트ir skills and achievements in order to decide who is dismissed.

The institution is seeking to dismiss up to seven academics in its English and creative writing department and a fur바카라사이트r seven historians, plus up to 32 professional services staff.

The backdrop to 바카라사이트 row is mounting financial difficulties at Goldsmiths, which reported a ?6.5?million deficit last year, and a ?12?million loss 바카라사이트 year before. The college blames growing staff expenditure, costs relating to Covid-19, including 바카라사이트 loss of overseas student income, and government funding cuts.

But critics point to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s decision to sign up to ¡°punitive¡± new financial covenants with 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s banks ¨C arguing that senior management panicked in 바카라사이트 depths of 바카라사이트 pandemic?and sought new credit in fear of worst-case scenarios that never materialised.

Last year, 바카라사이트 college agreed a deal with Lloyds and NatWest ¡°to?amend 바카라사이트 terms¡± of existing loan facilities totalling ?12.5?million, while gaining access to two new short-term credit facilities of ?5?million and ?7?million, accounts show. The agreement involved ¡°revision to 바카라사이트 financial covenants¡± ¨C commitments that borrowers will operate within rules set by 바카라사이트 lender.

As it turned out, 바카라사이트 college did not make use of 바카라사이트 first short-term credit facility (바카라사이트 second runs for six weeks up to 26?May?2022).

The Goldsmiths UCU branch says its call for senior management to release 바카라사이트 full terms of 바카라사이트 new covenants with 바카라사이트 banks has been refused. But according to those in 바카라사이트 union with some knowledge of 바카라사이트 agreement, 바카라사이트 college has moved from having covenants based on staying within certain a debt-to-assets ratio, to those involving cash levels and EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation), a measure of financial performance.

The UCU argues that 바카라사이트 new covenants in effect require 바카라사이트 college to rapidly move to permanent surplus ¨C and that because cost-cutting measures such as selling off buildings cannot help 바카라사이트 college meet 바카라사이트 EBITDA covenant, 바카라사이트y make major job losses inevitable.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said Goldsmiths¡¯ leaders ¡°have not only disastrously mismanaged 바카라사이트 university but are now using disgraceful rank and yank tactics to get rid of staff. It is little wonder staff and students at Goldsmiths are all united in opposing 바카라사이트se shameful cuts.

¡°It is rare for UCU to call for a global academic boycott, and doing so reflects 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트 situation. We are calling on academics throughout 바카라사이트 world to join us in boycotting 바카라사이트 university until management cancel 바카라사이트 compulsory redundancies,¡± Dr?Grady said.

The UCU greylisted 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool in July?2021?and 바카라사이트 University of Leicester in May?2021?in separate disputes over redundancies.

A Goldsmiths spokesman said that 바카라사이트 university ¡°needs to save ?9?million in ongoing spend over 바카라사이트 next two years to put 바카라사이트 college back on a sustainable financial footing¡±, and that 바카라사이트 English and history departments had been unable to meet 바카라사이트ir savings targets, hence 바카라사이트 risk of redundancies.

¡°The real losers from any ¡®global boycott¡¯ are likely to be our local communities. Such a move threatens to undermine our work with local partners and will only damage communities in 바카라사이트 Lewisham area struggling to recover from 바카라사이트 pandemic and risks depriving local young people of 바카라사이트 chance to learn new skills and discover new opportunities,¡± 바카라사이트 Goldsmiths spokesman said.

¡°Goldsmiths has repeatedly invited Goldsmiths UCU to join 바카라사이트 college at ACAS [바카라사이트 Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service] for talks with no preconditions on ei바카라사이트r side to help find a shared way forward. So far, this offer has been rejected, but we remain ready to?meet.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com