Anger at University of Warwick as students charged more and staff face sack
15 May 2012
The University of Warwick was accused of 'profiteering' today after it was revealed that 36 posts at the Warwick Business School face the axe, despite students facing vastly increased fees.
Thirty-six jobs, out of a total of 63 posts in support services on the Masters courses, are at risk and those who do survive the cull face pay cuts and increased workloads. UCU warned that slashing jobs, whilst increasing student fees, was the quickest way to seriously damage the institution's reputation.
From the next academic year (September 2012) students will face minimum fees of £20,000 for the Business School's one-year Masters course (which represents a 100% increase from just two years ago in some cases).
The union called on the University of Warwick to withdraw the plans and to enter into proper consultation on the future of the school and work with it to avoid compulsory redundancies. UCU added that removing vital support staff at the same time as increasing fees was simply not acceptable.
UCU regional official, Martin Machon, said: 'Plans to axe 36 posts whilst charging students more for courses are crude and seem to be little more than profiteering. It is simply not acceptable to expect fewer staff to deliver the same kind of service and, unless these plans are reversed, Warwick is on a fast track to damaging its reputation.
'UCU calls on the university to withdraw the proposals and enter into meaningful negotiations to avoid compulsory redundancies.'
From the next academic year (September 2012) students will face minimum fees of £20,000 for the Business School's one-year Masters course (which represents a 100% increase from just two years ago in some cases).
The union called on the University of Warwick to withdraw the plans and to enter into proper consultation on the future of the school and work with it to avoid compulsory redundancies. UCU added that removing vital support staff at the same time as increasing fees was simply not acceptable.
UCU regional official, Martin Machon, said: 'Plans to axe 36 posts whilst charging students more for courses are crude and seem to be little more than profiteering. It is simply not acceptable to expect fewer staff to deliver the same kind of service and, unless these plans are reversed, Warwick is on a fast track to damaging its reputation.
'UCU calls on the university to withdraw the proposals and enter into meaningful negotiations to avoid compulsory redundancies.'
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