Dispute at the University of Salford suspended after productive negotiations

UCU has successfully negotiated an extensive range of measures which should ensure no members are made compulsorily redundant following receipt in early June of an s188 redundancy consultation notice - the thirteenth from the university in less than 2 years.

Measures negotiated include a reversal of changes to the suite of redundancy avoidance procedures, including changing the reduced consultation period of 45 days back to 90 days, and the reinstatement of agreed pay protection and voluntary severance arrangements. Measures also include a more robust vacancy control model, and an additional extensive range of avoidance/mitigation arrangements, including redeployment possibilities and voluntary severance beyond collective consultation and through any notice period.

UCU regional official Martyn Moss said, 'In the event that any members remain at risk of compulsory redundancy from the June s188 consultation notice, further formal reviews with UCU have also been agreed, as has as an extension of the current notice's 30 day limit to a minimum of 50 days. We will also continue consultation around those proposals to close down and teach out certain courses, including discussion over the business case, where staff are not at immediate risk of compulsory redundancy but maybe so in the months to come.'
 
'We also have an agreement on developing a new more inclusive approach to industrial relations at the university which UCU will use to focus on avoiding piecemeal restructures and avoiding further s188 notices. We look forward to developing a more positive relationship with the university going forward'

'In the event of any compulsory redundancies still emerging from the current s188 notice UCU has reserved it's position to re-activate the dispute,' he added.