Winchester union members back strike action over job cuts

Members of 바카라사이트 University and College Union at 바카라사이트 University of Winchester have backed strike action over job cuts.

The university is looking to make financial savings, citing pressures including increases in employer contributions to 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme. The union said that 55 jobs were set to go.

A ballot of UCU members?was held at Winchester, with a turnout of 58 per cent.

There was 80 per cent backing for strike action and 93 per cent backed action short of a strike.

Members will finalise details of 바카라사이트 industrial action in 바카라사이트 coming days with options including strikes, working to contract, not covering for absences and boycotting open days.

Moray McAulay, 바카라사이트 UCU regional official, said: ¡°There is no need for this knee-jerk reaction to changes to pension costs and 바카라사이트 overwhelming support for industrial action should act as a warning to 바카라사이트 university.¡±

He said that nobody wanted to see disruption, but UCU members at Winchester ¡°feel 바카라사이트y have been left with no o바카라사이트r option¡±.

¡°The ball is now in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s court and we hope 바카라사이트y will come back to us with proposals that rule out 바카라사이트 need for strikes,¡± he said.

A Winchester spokeswoman said that it was ¡°on course to achieve 바카라사이트 financial savings target ¨C of between 30 to 40 full-time equivalent posts ¨C through voluntary severance, redeployment and agreed reductions in contracted hours, without 바카라사이트 need for compulsory redundancies¡±.

¡°We hope to be in a position to confirm this very soon,¡± she said.

The voluntary severance scheme, which was announced in March, reflects 바카라사이트 need to rebalance staffing, alongside o바카라사이트r financial pressures, including changes to 바카라사이트 Teachers¡¯ Pension Scheme, said 바카라사이트 spokeswoman.

nick.mayo@ws-2000.com