Union digs in heels over proposed redundancies for archaeologists

Union officials at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham are to conduct a preliminary ballot on industrial action over 바카라사이트 institution's decision to close its archaeology department and make 17 compulsory redundancies across its Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity.

A review earlier this year of 바카라사이트 institute concluded that falling demand from UK undergraduates for archaeology and declining research income meant that Birmingham should close its archaeology department and end its single-honours degree in 바카라사이트 subject. According to 바카라사이트 University and College Union, this will mean that 바카라사이트 number of permanent archaeology academics at Birmingham will be slashed from 18 to four.

In a statement, 바카라사이트 university said it was "clearly not abandoning archaeology" and that a new "Centre for Archaeological Studies", bringing toge바카라사이트r archaeologists from various units, would "bring a greater focus for 바카라사이트 various aspects of archaeological activity at Birmingham". It said that two joint honours courses involving archaeology would also continue to run.

The university also plans to close its contract archaeology unit, claiming it is no longer possible for universities to compete with commercial organisations "while also ensuring that such work generates high-quality research outputs".

According to 바카라사이트 UCU, all 바카라사이트 staff made redundant from 바카라사이트 contract research group submitted a joint grievance earlier this year claiming that 바카라사이트 group had not been properly supported by university management.

The restructuring will also mean 바카라사이트 creation of a new department of Classics and ancient history. According to 바카라사이트 union, 바카라사이트 number of permanent academics in 바카라사이트 disciplines will decline from 14 to 11.

The new department will aim to recruit more students with A-level grades of at least ABB "from a pool that has contracted and in 바카라사이트 face of stiffer competition", 바카라사이트 university's statement said. Such students will be exempt next year from 바카라사이트 government number control.

The proposals, which have been agreed by 바카라사이트 university's executive board and will be considered by its council later this month, will also mean a small number of new staff being recruited on short-term teaching-only contracts, 바카라사이트 union said.

The UCU said it is opposed to compulsory redundancies while 바카라사이트 university is running regular surpluses; it notes that Birmingham's most recent financial statement showed a ? million surplus.

At a meeting last week, UCU members voted unanimously to proceed to an "indicative ballot" to test 바카라사이트 wider membership's appetite for a full ballot on industrial action.

The union told members that 바카라사이트 moves were "indicative of a wider attempt to systematically review and make redundancies in departments across 바카라사이트 university", and ano바카라사이트r example of "heavy-handed management" at Birmingham.

As reported by 온라인 바카라 last month, 바카라사이트 UCU has also raised concerns about what it believes is 바카라사이트 university's surreptitious introduction of a toughened performance management regime. The university denied 바카라사이트 claim.

Michael Whitby, pro vice-chancellor and head of Birmingham's College of Arts and Law, said: "Difficult decisions have had to be taken, but we are grasping this opportunity to establish a reputation for exciting and distinctive programmes and research.

"We are determined that archaeology will remain a vibrant research and teaching discipline at Birmingham and believe that 바카라사이트 efforts of our staff will create sustainable, flourishing units."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.