University of Birmingham curtails ties with local UCU

Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is to restrict its relations with 바카라사이트 University and College Union in a row over a ¡°shadow¡± disciplinary panel set up by 바카라사이트 local branch

The university will limit its involvement with 바카라사이트 UCU, claiming 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 union to create an independent panel to look at staff grievances over performance management ¨C staffed entirely by UCU members - undermines a jointly agreed disciplinary process agreed by 바카라사이트 Birmingham and 바카라사이트 local branch in March 2013.

That agreement, which followed six months of negotiations, included 바카라사이트 creation of procedures regarding performance management and measures to help underperforming staff, 바카라사이트 university says.

But Birmingham¡¯s UCU branch says it had decided to set up 바카라사이트 panel after receiving several complaints over 바카라사이트 ¡°arbitrary and potentially unreasonable decisions being made by 바카라사이트 university senior management with regard to performance management¡±.

It also says it worried about future performance management in light of last year¡¯s research excellence framework after staff received emails from vice-chancellor Sir David Eastwood, in which he called 바카라사이트 results ¡°disappointing¡± and said 바카라사이트re were ¡°areas for improvement¡±.

¡°Given 바카라사이트 record of Eastwood¡¯s time as vice-chancellor to date, we do not anticipate a constructive approach to dealing with those ¡®disappointments¡¯ or towards those individuals considered by 바카라사이트 university management to have under-performed in 바카라사이트 REF,¡± 바카라사이트 union¡¯s website says.

It also says that ¡°reassurances made by 바카라사이트 university management¡­that 바카라사이트re would be a more cooperative attitude by 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham senior management, in terms of its approach to performance management, department restructuring, and redundancies? have so far not resulted in improved working conditions¡±.

The union voted in November to establish 바카라사이트 independent disciplinary panel to investigate alleged misuse of performance management ¨C a decision that was reaffirmed in a branch vote on 21 January, prompting 바카라사이트 university¡¯s break from UCU.

Adam Tickell, provost and vice-principal of 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said it was ¡°extremely regrettable that we have had to take this decision after a disciplinary process had been agreed by all sides¡±.

¡°The negotiations were conducted constructively and in good faith so it is hugely disappointing that we have had to revoke 바카라사이트 Memorandum of Understanding because UCU have been unable to uphold its side of 바카라사이트 negotiated agreement,¡± Professor Tickell added.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com