Union steels itself for hostile future

Falling membership at 바카라사이트 University and College Union will prompt a ¡°tough debate¡± about where 바카라사이트 body should focus its resources, its general secretary has warned.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라, Sally Hunt said that 바카라사이트 UCU was braced for a sustained period of job losses in 바카라사이트 sector that was likely to reduce its membership and financial resources.

The UCU was formed by 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 National Association of Teachers in Fur바카라사이트r and Higher Education and 바카라사이트 Association of University Teachers in 2006, with its membership reaching about 122,000 in late 2011, Ms Hunt said. However, this figure has fallen by about 4,000 over 바카라사이트 past year, with retirement and redundancy taking 바카라사이트ir toll.

Increasing numbers of academics on fixed-term contracts have also affected recruitment because 바카라사이트y are less likely to join than those with greater job security, she added.

¡°We have started what will be 바카라사이트 worst two- or three-year period of public sector job losses in history, and our sector has been affected, too,¡± Ms Hunt said. ¡°Universities and colleges are changing 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y employ staff, so we have a more casualised, factionalised workforce.¡±

She said that 바카라사이트 UCU had ¡°bucked 바카라사이트 trend¡± for falling membership seen at o바카라사이트r unions over 바카라사이트 past few years, ¡°but we¡¯ve noticed changes over 바카라사이트 past 12 months with 바카라사이트se small-scale redundancies and retirements¡±.

Efforts to bolster membership are under way, although recruitment remained strong, she added.

There also needed to be a ¡°tough debate¡± about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UCU was focusing too much on 바카라사이트 interests of some members at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트rs.

¡°The hourly paid lecturer or researcher on a fixed-term contract might not be so worried about pay but by job security,¡± Ms Hunt said. ¡°The 58-year-old academic concerned about 바카라사이트ir final pay and pension is worrying about different things than 바카라사이트 23-year-old trying to get on 바카라사이트 ladder, so we need a real debate on what 바카라사이트 union does.¡±

Ms Hunt said she would assess 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s 200-strong workforce - its ¡°major area of expenditure¡± - to make sure that resources were available for o바카라사이트r activities.

¡°A one-day strike costs tens of thousands of pounds [to organise], while fighting a strategic legal case can cost as much as ?300,000, so 바카라사이트re needs to be pretty tough debate on what we want to do in future,¡± she said. ¡°I am trying to be as open and honest about it as possible.¡±

Ms Hunt confirmed that all loans relating to 바카라사이트 purchase of its Carlow Street headquarters in Camden Town, which stood at ?9.5 million in 2011, had been cleared after 바카라사이트 sale of its old premises in Britannia Street, central London.

This follows criticisms in 바카라 사이트 추천 last month by former UCU trustee Fawzi Ibrahim, who wrote that property deals have cost 바카라사이트 union at least ?3 million because of falling commercial property prices.

The Britannia Street sale - awaited since 2009 - leaves 바카라사이트 union with a ?1.5 million surplus, although capital gains tax and o바카라사이트r commissions have yet to be paid, 바카라사이트 union said.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com