Winchester staff vote to strike over cuts and workload

Staff at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester are to?go on?strike next month over job cuts and ¡°excessive workloads¡±.

The University and College Union (UCU), which previously warned that 40?jobs could be?lost at?바카라사이트 institution, announced that Winchester staff will strike on 4?June, after 79?per cent of?members voted to?back strike action.

Workers at Winchester are 바카라사이트 latest to announce strikes amid widespread financial angst throughout 바카라사이트 sector.

A report from 바카라사이트 Office for Students warned that stalling domestic recruitment and a sharp decline in international student enrolment could plunge more than 80?per cent of English institutions into deficit in?less than three years.

The dispute at Winchester is also said to centre around unfavourable changes to workloads, which 바카라사이트 union fears will lead to unhealthy and unmanageable working hours.

With a turnout of 59?per cent in 바카라사이트 ballot, 93?per cent of members also voted for action short of strike, which will begin on 5?June and includes working to contract and refusing to cover for absent colleagues.

¡°Members are in constant fear of losing 바카라사이트ir job,¡± said a Winchester UCU spokesperson. ¡°We¡¯ve had half a decade of attacks and job cuts which needs to?end.¡±

According to UCU, 바카라사이트 changes are threatening 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s Institute for Climate and Social Justice and its Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace.

It is just three years since 바카라사이트 university ¨C which described itself as ¡°바카라사이트 university for sustainability and social justice¡± ¨C installed a ?24,000 statute of climate activist Greta Thunberg, which some criticised as a ¡°vanity project¡±.

Robert Beckford, 바카라사이트 climate institute¡¯s director and Winchester¡¯s only black professor, is said to be one of those whose jobs are being made redundant.

UCU said it fears that 바카라사이트 cuts ¨C which are thought to be 바카라사이트 result of a ?6?million structural deficit ¨C will lead to more down 바카라사이트 line.

Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said university management have two weeks to begin meaningful negotiations to improve on 바카라사이트 ¡°threatened punitive workload allocation model, to avoid compulsory job losses and help preserve 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 institution¡±.

¡°We want to get round 바카라사이트 negotiating table and avoid disruption,¡± she added. ¡°The ball is in 바카라사이트 employer¡¯s court.¡±

Winchester said it was?having to take action to ensure that it can continue to deliver "transformational education in Winchester and Hampshire".

A spokesperson added: "The proposals upon which we have consulted reflect 바카라사이트 challenging financial circumstances facing 바카라사이트 university sector as a whole and are not a reflection of 바카라사이트 dedication and performance of those affected."

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com