University of Bournemouth slammed over controversial job cuts

UCU today slammed Bournemouth University's plans for controversial job cuts. Staff have been told that 15 academic posts will be axed from the university's business school as the department looks to restructure for the second time in two years.
 
The planned cuts in the business school are more bad news for a department which last saw redundancies in July 2008 and where almost half of the academic staff have been targeted for redundancy since 2007.
 
Nearly 150 staff have left Bournemouth University since 2006 and the union today accused the university of sacrificing teachers for the sake of rebranding and warned of the impact the cuts would have on students.
 
UCU branch secretary at Bournemouth University, Paul Freedman, said: 'Once again experienced and committed staff are being sacrificed in another ill-judged attempt to rebrand the business school. The last attempt, by the previous Dean, removed high quality staff and left those who survived with heavier workloads.
 
'We call on the university to reverse these proposals and to invest in the proper development of its existing staff. Staff and students should be the institution's number one priority, not this latest short-term fix.'