Solidarity appeal over SOAS sackings

21 October 2005

An urgent request for a strong show of solidarity for colleagues sacked by the School of Oriental & African Studies has been sent out to AUT members this afternoon.

London's School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) dismissed two regional/subject librarians on grounds of redundancy on 30 September. Two other specialist librarians remain at risk of compulsory redundancy or the imposition of significant changes to their job. All four are AUT members.

Justine Stephens, AUT's head of campaigns, reported that intense lobbying from AUT members had led to a special meeting of the SOAS governing body being called for 26 October to consider the sackings. SOAS AUT is planning a lobby of the meeting to show the strength of support for the sacked librarians and to urge the university to reinstate them.

Ms Stephens added: 'There has been worldwide opposition to the sackings of these specialist librarians. SOAS management has resisted all attempts to resolve this dispute. They refused to follow agreed procedures for handling restructuring. They failed to consult properly with the AUT, with the members concerned or with library users. They brushed aside previous assurances that no academic-related positions in the library were under threat.

'Members at SOAS are appalled at the treatment of these long-serving members of staff. The members under threat have a combined length of service of over 96 years, but the sacked librarians have not even been allowed to work out their notice.'

She added that several packed meetings of SOAS AUT have voted for a ballot on industrial action and notice has been served on SOAS of AUT's intention to ballot members.

Any member who can is asked to show support by attending the lobby on Wednesday 26 October from 3pm outside SOAS in Thornhaugh Street, London WC1.

Anyone who can't attend is instead asked to e-mail or write to the Director & Principal of SOAS, Professor Colin Bundy (cb3@soas.ac.uk) to urge him to reinstate the sacked librarians and avoid any further damage to the reputation of SOAS.

Messages of solidarity should go to SOAS AUT at gd1@soas.ac.uk, copied please to londonregion@aut.org.uk.