Trade union says Ulster University has failed to provide assurances over compulsory redundancies
A trade union has responded to Ulster University’s publication of its voluntary redundancy scheme, saying that UU has failed to provide any assurances regarding compulsory job losses.
Earlier this year, the university announced that it would be cutting 450 jobs and, it is reported that Vice Chancellor Paul Bartholomew delivered a video message to UU staff on September 7 outlining details of a voluntary redundancy scheme.
In April, UU said: ““Redundancies across the Higher Education Sector have become unavoidable. To date, more than 100 institutions across the UK have downsized their staffing complement.
"Ulster University has sought to hold off on making redundancies while continuing to work with the Department for the Economy, through their reviews, on possible changes to the HE funding model in Northern Ireland.
"It has recently been made clear to us that a sustainable funding model is not going to be forthcoming, and regretfully we must now act to reduce our costs.”
In a statement on September 8, the union Unite said that the university’s redundancy plan failed to provide any analysis of how cutting 450 (equivalent to 15% of the workforce) would “affect the quality of education, the sustainability of its four campuses or the impact on already hard-pressed workers”.
Ulster University in total has around 3,100 staff.
Unite said the university had failed to provide any assurances that compulsory redundancies will not follow if insufficient volunteers are accepted on the voluntary scheme.
Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham said: "These job cuts fundamentally damage Ulster University. Management has paid no attention to the concerns raised by the workforce.
"They have been deaf to their fears that this drastic staffing cut will leave those who remain struggling to cope. It undermines the quality of education and the sustainability of the university’s multi-campus model."
Damien Doherty, regional officer said: "Ulster University has failed to rule out compulsory redundancies or that job cuts could exceed the 450 figure.
“Redundancies on this scale threaten the viability of more than one campus. How is that going to affect balanced regional development? The Stormont Executive must intervene and properly fund higher and further education."
Unite represents more than 400 non-teaching staff employed by Ulster University.