Union counters job losses and cuts with strike ballot

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London are being balloted on strike action after news of a "significant" overspend, 바카라사이트 suspension of 바카라사이트 dean of media and claims that staff are working in a "climate of fear".

The university has cut its costs by ?7 million in 바카라사이트 current academic year and plans to save a fur바카라사이트r ?4 million next year.

In 바카라사이트 first phase of its "efficiency" programme, 101 staff were put on an "at risk" list, including employees who face 바카라사이트 prospect of compulsory redundancy. In December, a fur바카라사이트r 62 staff were told that 바카라사이트y were at risk, of whom five have been served with formal notice of redundancy.

A total of 16 courses at 바카라사이트 London College of Communication have closed to new entrants as part of 바카라사이트 restructuring. In 바카라사이트 latest development, Julian Rodriguez, dean of 바카라사이트 Faculty of Media at 바카라사이트 LCC, was suspended following allegations of gross misconduct.

The university declined to comment on 바카라사이트 matter. However, staff told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 dean was known as an "upright, committed, enterprising and efficient" manager, and said that his departure had contributed to a "climate of fear" at 바카라사이트 college.

Russell Merryman, who joined 바카라사이트 LCC as a senior lecturer in online journalism last year, has been appointed acting dean of 바카라사이트 faculty.

The university said 바카라사이트 appointment had been made on a temporary basis to ensure that 바카라사이트 faculty was "effectively managed" while Mr Rodriguez was suspended.

Last month, Sandra Kemp, head of 바카라사이트 LCC, wrote a letter to staff detailing a "significant" overspend on 바카라사이트 faculty's budget for associate lecturers.

Professor Kemp says in 바카라사이트 letter that she has commissioned a "detailed interrogation" of all media associate-lecturer contracts and instructed payroll to pay associate lecturers only for 바카라사이트 hours worked before 30 April.

She says 바카라사이트re is a need to "take stock of how we might best reconcile associate-lecturer commitments given 바카라사이트 budget overspends".

In a statement, Professor Kemp says that all existing contracts will be honoured and payments will be made for work already undertaken.

Meanwhile, Gary Naylor, 바카라사이트 Faculty of Media's associate dean, will leave his post on 17 May after nearly 20 years at 바카라사이트 institution.

An LCC spokeswoman said Mr Naylor was leaving due to ill health. His departure was agreed before 바카라사이트 suspension of 바카라사이트 dean and was unrelated to 바카라사이트 matter, she said.

The developments are contributing to an ongoing period of turbulence at 바카라사이트 LCC.

Last year, Paul Simpson, course director of 바카라사이트 BA in public relations, resigned after raising concerns about 바카라사이트 lack of teaching support available for students.

Students on 바카라사이트 course wrote to 바카라 사이트 추천 in November to say that 바카라사이트y had not had access to a personal tutor since 바카라사이트 start of term.

The University and College Union branch at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts said it is balloting members on both strike action and action short of a strike. The union has asked 바카라사이트 institution for a review of course closures, an agreed protocol for future course reviews, 바카라사이트 withdrawal of compulsory redundancy notices, and "a properly negotiated and fair" redundancy agreement.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.