Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/609/8753
From The Socialist newspaper, 27 January 2010
University of Gloucestershire staff fight back
The University of Gloucestershire (UoG) is £36 million in debt and plans £3 million of cuts by July 2010. Last week UoG staff and students demonstrated demanding an end to all compulsory redundancies, and a reversal of cuts to services.
Chris Moore
In December University and College Union (UCU) members unanimously backed strike action. The branch chair Gwen Chaney said: "instead of sacking staff the university should be putting pressure on the government to allow us to take more students."
UoG has been described as having a culture of "the higher the risk, the greater the reward" and of being "seduced by the ideology of enterprise." One example was the speculative purchase of the £8.3 million East London campus. Apparently a former dean, Keith Sharp, undertook numerous foreign trips to recruit students for it. The site is due for closure, as well as the vibrant Cheltenham-based art campus, with 30 enforced redundancies at the faculty of education, humanities and sciences.
Despite the funding crisis vice chancellor Patricia Broadfoot received a £34,000 increase in income to £202,000. Meanwhile 100 staff members have taken early retirement or voluntary redundancy. So staff and students are expected to pay for the mess.
Senior management are conducting an 'academic efficiency review'. Lecturer and UCU member Kate North says: "the ones that were responsible for the mismanagement of finances are now conducting the review." Consultants have been hired to manage these cuts, including the closure and amalgamation of courses, cuts to library services, restrictions on teaching materials and the axing of a free student bus service.
Many students back the lecturers' campaign. Liam Hamilton, an organiser of the 1,000 strong student Facebook site 'Support Our Lecturers' said: "I pay over £3,000 a year in fees, I don't think it's right that the university is cutting services and not fees." Unfortunately student union president Leigh Moore has refused to support any UCU strike action.
In universities like Wolverhampton and Plymouth, UCU has forced concessions from management. They can do the same at the UoG, but nationally coordinated UCU industrial action is vital in the fight to save the future of higher education.
UCU campaign: saveuog.com
Email support to:ucucampaigns@saveuog.com
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 27 January 2010:
Prosecute the war criminal Blair
Credit crunch
Bonuses for bankers but recession for workers
Outrage against bankers spurs Obama on
Unemployment figures don't tell the full story
Socialist Party election campaign
Lewisham Socialist Party prepares for election
Support for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) grows
Socialist Party news and analysis
Haiti: Survivors shackled by huge debt and poverty
Cadbury's bosses opt for a sugary takeover
Socialist Party workplace news
Unison black members reject witch-hunt
South Yorkshire fire dispute Negotiations go national
Building the fight against education cuts at Leeds
Glasgow City Unison fights back against cuts in jobs and services
Temperature rises at British Airways
Ticket office staff strike again
Socialist Students
University of Gloucestershire staff fight back
Cuts at Cardiff University must be fought
Socialist Party feature
Workplace Feature: IT workers in mini strike wave
PCS members at Hewlett Parkard strike in Lytham St Annes and North Tyneside
Seventh day of national strike action at Fujitsu IT
Home | The Socialist 27 January 2010 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
