Strike ballot opens over unprecedented attack on all academic staff at LSBU

The ballot is over LSBU's decision to terminate the contract of every single academic member of staff and pit them against each other in a "redundancy" selection process determined by the flawed Research Excellency Framework. The university has announced its intention to tear up local and national agreements and divide the workforce into two ('teaching and research' (T&R) or 'teaching and scholarship' (T&S)).  The new contracts also increase working time without any corresponding increase in pay.  In addition, the university will deny all new T&S starters access to the current industry standard pension scheme by employing them through a subsidiary company.

UCU members at the university have, for years, refused to bargain away their rights.  Faced with this nuclear option instigated by the new vice-chancellor, they have asked management to halt the proposals and properly engage with the union. 

LSBU UCU branch secretary Federica Rossi said: 'LSBU has launched one of the most serious attacks on academic staff in higher education. It plans to remove collective bargaining protections, undermine nationally agreed terms and conditions, and put jobs and pay at risk through the threat of fire-and-rehire. This is not only an attack on staff at LSBU, but a challenge to standards and academic workers' rights across the sector. If these measures are allowed to proceed, they risk setting a dangerous precedent. That is why we are fighting to stop them.'

UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: 'LSBU staff will be voting yes to industrial action because they refuse to accept management's brutal assault on jobs, workloads and future careers, as well as on UCU as their recognised staff union.'