UCU condemns redundancy plans at Birmingham City University and calls on VC to rethink restructure

The union has condemned the plans to sack 36 staff in academic leadership roles across the institution by the end of July and called on the employer to work with them to look at an alternative plan and rule out compulsory redundancies or face the prospect of industrial action.   

BCU vice-chancellor Professor David Mba is encouraging staff who don't agree with his new strategy to apply, by the end of March, for voluntary severance, although the union fears compulsory redundancies may follow. The university launched its wide-ranging plans last year as part of a move towards a focus on teaching over research and more performance monitoring of staff.  But UCU believes it will also result in job losses, increased workload for those who remain, and lowering the status of research at the university. 

The union said that, as well having a devastating impact on the reputation of the university as a whole, the plans will impact the student experience and have a detrimental impact on the careers of staff whose skills and employability will inevitably suffer. 

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'The university must urgently stop its attack on jobs, which risks doing irreparable damage to the institution's research capabilities. It is shocking that staff have to declare a dispute to try to push the employer to do the right thing. Management needs to rule out all compulsory redundancies and work with us so we can avoid any industrial unrest.' 

UCU regional official Anne O'Sullivan said: 'As well as impacting on the reputation of the university nationally and internationally, these proposals will impact the careers of staff whose skills and employability, will suffer. The university must negotiate meaningfully with us or face the possibility of industrial action ballots.'