Union says choice of chair for governance review is extraordinary and cause for serious concern

The union questioned the choice of Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski as chair of the review panel and said von Prondzynski, the principal at Robert Gordon University, RGU, was neither independent nor appropriate given his university's anti-union stance.

The union said von Prondzynski's own institution ignored governance procedures when his university derecognised trade unions immediately prior to his tenure. The union argued that principals should be given a seat on the review at the same level as governors, staff and students with a truly independent chair tasked with leading the review.

Due to the de-recognition# of UCU and UNITE at RGU, UCU members from the institution on the review panel could end up in the 'perverse situation' of speaking to their principal through this review, but being barred from attending similar meetings with him back on campus.

UCU has been calling for a proper review of university governance and welcomed the announcement during a debate* in the Scottish Parliament. The union added that it was pleased the process would ensure involvement from trade unions and students.

UCU Scottish official, Mary Senior, said: 'We unreservedly welcome a review of university governance, but on a day when we should be praising the Scottish government for bringing forward our initiative we are instead considering our very involvement in the review due to the choice of chair.

'We are concerned about taking part in a review at national level while the chair refuses UCU and UNITE participation at his own university. Our former UCU Scotland president could be in the perverse position of taking part in a meeting with her principal at a national level, but barred from taking part in such meetings locally.

'We find the appointment of Professor von Prondzynski extraordinary and a cause for serious concern. We call on Mike Russell to continue with this review which has the welcome involvement of unions and students but to urgently reconsider the choice of chair who should be truly independent.'