Dispute at University of Brighton is over

A dispute at the University of Brighton over job losses, working conditions and union rights is over after members of the University and College Union (UCU) today (Friday) overwhelmingly accepted a deal from the university.

Ninety-four per cent of members who voted backed the deal bringing to an end a dispute that had seen staff take strike action and work to contract. The dispute had seen UCU members at Brighton walk out on strike for half a day in March and work to contract. There had been two strike days planned for last week and three next week, but the union postponed them to allow talks to continue.

The agreement removes the threat of redundancy for staff in the college of arts and humanities after deals were reached between the affected staff and the university surrounding their future. The deal also commits the university to exploring redeployment and voluntary redundancy options in the future should the threat of job losses arise.

Furthermore, there will be an independent review of the duties of hourly-paid lecturers and demonstrators in the school of computing, engineering and mathematics with a guarantee of appropriate back pay should any individuals be found to have been put on an incorrect contract.

The university has also agreed to reinstate a promotion process and work with UCU to renegotiate the entire academic promotions process.

UCU regional official Michael Moran said: 'The dispute at the University of Brighton is over and we are very pleased the university has ruled out compulsory job losses and reinstated the promotions process. Nobody wants to take strike action and we are now looking forward to working with the university to improve our members' terms and conditions.'