Financial mismanagement to blame for Plymouth job cuts, says UCU

The union said it was disingenuous of the university to blame the job cuts on current economic difficulties as the deficit had been allowed to build up over recent years. UCU said it was unfair that its members in Plymouth had to pay the price for the University's failings.

Commenting on the proposed redundancies, president of the UCU branch of the University of Plymouth, Mike Sheaff said: 'As the union representing academic staff, we do not accept the proposal for over 100 academic staff redundancies. The reputation for excellence achieved by the University of Plymouth has been built upon the expertise and commitment of the staff over many years. Great distress and anxiety has been caused by this announcement, particularly at a time when staff are working hard to welcome 30,000 new and returning students at the start of the academic year.

'We oppose any redundancies that are used to fund new investment in as yet unidentified posts. The information we have at present is very limited and we are urgently seeking more details from the University to enable us to engage in meaningful negotiations.'

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'UCU members in Plymouth have the full support of the national union. Plymouth's ambitious new building programme always carried considerable financial risk which we believe is now contributing to the deficit. We reject outright any suggestions that the current crisis is merely attributable to rising costs and current economic difficulties. The deficit was built up during a period when inflation was at historically low levels.

'We have raised questions about the University's deficit in the past and believe the University took its eye off the ball during the ten months it took to appoint a new vice-chancellor. It is not UCU members in Plymouth who should have to pay the price for the University's financial mismanagement. We have every faith in the University as an educational institution, but we will continue to criticise the management when they are found wanting.'