Oxford Brookes row over staff forced to defy police advice on travel

Oxford Brookes University has been accused of putting the health of its staff and the local community at risk after it was revealed that staff who refused to travel to work, against police advice, in last week's treacherous conditions will be docked annual leave. UCU also dismissed the institution's current 'Love and Justice' month as a 'badly-timed gimmick' in the wake of the revelations.
 
The union has called on the university to withdraw plans to deduct a day's annual leave from staff that either could not make it in to work or would not disregard police advice and attempt the journey. The local police advised people not to travel on 5 and 6 February and on Friday the Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach Oxford withdrew all their services making a journey to work on public transport impossible. Furthermore, the university was forced to close its Wheatley and Harcourt Hill campuses on Friday 6 February.

'We are absolutely horrified that staff who follow police advice on travelling in dangerous conditions will get a reduction in their holiday entitlement.' Sally HuntThe union said it was particularly unfortunate that the university had decided to push ahead with the punitive measures during its 'Love and Justice' month. The Oxford Brookes University website describes the Love and Justice month as a time to 'consider what Love and Justice means to you, to society and to the community within and beyond Oxford Brookes. It's a chance to increase your understanding of other peoples' experiences and perspectives on the world and to explore the challenges and rewards associated with delivering an inclusive and supportive environment for all.'
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The safety of staff and students has to be the paramount concern of any university. We are absolutely horrified that Oxford Brookes has said staff who follow police advice on travelling in dangerous conditions will get a reduction in their holiday entitlement. Quite how this approach to management fits with the university's 'Love and Justice' month is beyond me. It appears to be little more than a badly-timed gimmick when placed alongside the reality of working at Oxford Brookes.'
 
Oxford Brookes University UCU representative, Chris Murphy, said: "Staff not wanting to be penalised in the future will be forced to put their safety, and that of others, at risk by attempting to travel in such dangerous conditions - which is completely unacceptable. The university has to retract these ridiculous penalties and make a clear statement about the importance of the safety of its staff and the local community.'