Fight university job cuts

JOB LOSSES at Manchester university are being resisted by "angry and affronted" staff. These 400 job cuts will affect lecturers, researchers and administrative and other low-paid staff.

Hugh Caffrey

Dave Beale, lecturers' union, UCU, press officer told the socialist: "Union members are overwhelmingly angry and affronted at the redundancies especially in light of the university's ambitious expansion and building programme."

Management claim that because of the merger with UMIST, the resulting £30 million deficit can only be covered by cutting jobs. But when hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent on the merger, new buildings and "celebrity" lecturers, how can any competent management fail to find £30 million?

Within two years every undergraduate will pay £3,000 a year for the privilege of their education. Multiply £3,000 by the tens of thousands of students, plus many £10,000 international fees.

Bosses claim the redundancies will all be voluntary but staff doubt this. And there will be an increased workload for staff and a worse service for students.

This will be an important dispute for the whole Higher Education sector. Over 2,300 staff form the biggest UCU branch in the country. University bosses are drawn directly from the top axe-wielding echelons of the private sector.

Send protests and support letters to: UCU office, Williamson Building, Manchester University, Oxford Rd., Manchester, M13 9PL. Email ucu@manchester.ac.uk