Row at University of Salford over reduced redundancy rights
12 March 2013
The University of Salford has today been accused of riding roughshod over its own guidelines as it detailed plans to severely reduce redundancy terms for staff at the institution.
The vice-chancellor has written to all staff saying that the university is reducing the amount of money staff will get if they are made redundant and that their pay protection - which preserves their salary for a time if their position is downgraded - is being slashed.
UCU said the sudden changes go against clear guidelines agreed by the union and university only two years ago. It added that Salford has already announced more recent redundancies than any other university in the UK. In the past 18 months, ten collective redundancy consultations have been issued by the institution - the highest in the UK.
The local UCU branch at Salford is due to meet tomorrow to discuss its response to the vice-chancellor's letter and decision to announce the changes without any consultation with the union. Last summer UCU members went on strike over the threat of job losses.
UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'The university is ripping up agreements it negotiated with us only two years ago in what looks like efforts to sack or downgrade staff on much poorer terms. Salford already has the unwanted record for the highest number of redundancy consultations in the UK and these latest changes look like another attempt to ride roughshod over proper procedure.
'At a time of deep insecurity across the higher education sector, the University of Salford should not be seeking to steam ahead in a race to the bottom when it comes to staff terms and conditions and job security.
'Despite its behaviour, we are still keen to sit down and minimise any damage to the university's battered reputation or staff morale.'
UCU said the sudden changes go against clear guidelines agreed by the union and university only two years ago. It added that Salford has already announced more recent redundancies than any other university in the UK. In the past 18 months, ten collective redundancy consultations have been issued by the institution - the highest in the UK.
The local UCU branch at Salford is due to meet tomorrow to discuss its response to the vice-chancellor's letter and decision to announce the changes without any consultation with the union. Last summer UCU members went on strike over the threat of job losses.
UCU regional official, Martyn Moss, said: 'The university is ripping up agreements it negotiated with us only two years ago in what looks like efforts to sack or downgrade staff on much poorer terms. Salford already has the unwanted record for the highest number of redundancy consultations in the UK and these latest changes look like another attempt to ride roughshod over proper procedure.
'At a time of deep insecurity across the higher education sector, the University of Salford should not be seeking to steam ahead in a race to the bottom when it comes to staff terms and conditions and job security.
'Despite its behaviour, we are still keen to sit down and minimise any damage to the university's battered reputation or staff morale.'
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