Staff strike at Middlesex University
3 October 2011
Members of the University and College Union (UCU) and UNISON at Middlesex University will be on strike tomorrow in a row over job cuts and changes to staff terms and conditions.
Staff will be on picket lines from 8am on College Road in Hendon (NW4 4BT) and at the main entrance to the Trent Park Campus on Snakes Lane (N14 4YZ).
The row centres on the university's cost-cutting measures that will result in up to 300 redundancies, with half of the savings to be found by cuts to academic staff.
UCU said the job losses would have a devastating effect on the quality of academic provision and the student experience. The university is refusing to rule out increased workloads for staff who survive the jobs cull, which the union believes is in breach of nationally-agreed conditions of service.
Tomorrow's strike is another blow for the university after it was revealed on Thursday that the beleaguered institution is one of the worst in the country when it comes to offering financial support for students, less than year before it hikes up its fees up to some of the most expensive in the country (£8,602, after financial support is taken into account): Under-fire Middlesex University slammed over lack of financial support for students
UCU branch chair at Middlesex University, Arthur Husk, said: 'Nobody wanted things to come to this but we cannot sit by while our members' jobs and conditions are attacked and students' education is put at risk. The university's saving drive is short-sighted and will have a devastating effect on staff and students. There needs to be an urgent change of direction from management.'
UCU general Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Industrial action is always a last resort but our members have little choice. I sincerely hope that the university's management and governors take notice of the opposition to these cuts. A negotiated settlement is still possible if the vice-chancellor is willing to meet for genuine negotiations.'
The row centres on the university's cost-cutting measures that will result in up to 300 redundancies, with half of the savings to be found by cuts to academic staff.
UCU said the job losses would have a devastating effect on the quality of academic provision and the student experience. The university is refusing to rule out increased workloads for staff who survive the jobs cull, which the union believes is in breach of nationally-agreed conditions of service.
Tomorrow's strike is another blow for the university after it was revealed on Thursday that the beleaguered institution is one of the worst in the country when it comes to offering financial support for students, less than year before it hikes up its fees up to some of the most expensive in the country (£8,602, after financial support is taken into account): Under-fire Middlesex University slammed over lack of financial support for students
UCU branch chair at Middlesex University, Arthur Husk, said: 'Nobody wanted things to come to this but we cannot sit by while our members' jobs and conditions are attacked and students' education is put at risk. The university's saving drive is short-sighted and will have a devastating effect on staff and students. There needs to be an urgent change of direction from management.'
UCU general Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Industrial action is always a last resort but our members have little choice. I sincerely hope that the university's management and governors take notice of the opposition to these cuts. A negotiated settlement is still possible if the vice-chancellor is willing to meet for genuine negotiations.'
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