The Socialist 27 January 2010

Prosecute the war criminal Blair

Bonuses for bankers but recession for workers

Outrage against bankers spurs Obama on

Unemployment figures don't tell the full story

Lewisham Socialist Party prepares for election

Support for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) grows

Haiti: Survivors shackled by huge debt and poverty

Cadbury's bosses opt for a sugary takeover

Far right thugs invade Stoke

Food for thought

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

Visteon pensioners protest

Temperature rises at British Airways

Ticket office staff strike again

University of Gloucestershire staff fight back

Cuts at Cardiff University must be fought

Imperialism in Africa today

PCS members at Hewlett Parkard strike in Lytham St Annes and North Tyneside

Seventh day of national strike action at Fujitsu IT

Previous issues, etc

Print this issue




Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/609/8753

Google search the site	Printable version	email to friend

Home | The Socialist 27 January 2010 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop

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.