Jobs and pay under threat at university
STAFF BEING ASKED TO CONSIDER 10% PAY CUT, SAY UNIONS
UNIONS say Bangor University chiefs want staff to consider a 10% pay cut as part of a range of measures to save up to 170 jobs.
The university – like many others in the UK – is facing a major cash shortfall due to funding cuts with the Unison union saying there are also concerns over the Brexit impact.
They need to find savings of £8.5m, with up to 170 jobs under threat according to the union.
This has seen them contact unions and staff with a raft of proposals to consider to minimise or remove the need for compulsory job cuts.
Unison say these include:
Nine day fortnight, effectively meaning a 10% reduction in pay for staff.
A ban on first class and business class travel.
Recruitment freeze.
Offer of voluntary redundancy.
Hospitality cuts and reducing conference attendance.
Unison Cymru Wales regional organiser Geoff Edkins said the 10% pay cut proposal was not an option for many staff.
Unison, Unite and the UCU unions will meet staff in a meeting at the university on Thursday to discuss the initial proposals.
Mr Edkins said: “We are drawing up proposals which we believe will provide appropriate savings that would avoid the need for compulsory redundancies and also for a 10% cut in pay. This is simply not an option to staff, they cannot afford this.”
Bangor University said it has been carrying out a wide-ranging review in order to respond to the changes that will arise over the coming years and to address significant financial challenges.
Bangor University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John G Hughes, said: “In carrying out this review, it has been important to create scope for future investment in new and existing academic programmes, as well as improved facilities that will ensure Bangor continues to provide its students with a high quality education.
“The University has many strengths, including the quality of education the students receive, research excellence and a high standard of student experience.
“Much has been achieved in recent years, however, it is imperative that we achieve sound financial stability and to do this we must make the necessary savings. It is only by doing so that we will be able to maintain and develop the many strengths we have as an institution and which we have all worked so hard to achieve.”
Since the review began in 2016 the University has suffered further funding cuts in the current financial year, and further cuts are pro- posed in 2017/18. Recent financial projections, taking into account further changes to income and expenditure, shows that savings of £8.5m need to be secured in order to ensure that the University can meet the challenges it faces.
A spokeswoman from the University said they were discussing with trade unions and staff on how to achieve the savings target and to mitigate against the need for redundancies. Over the next few weeks and months a comprehensive series of steps will be adopted in order to make the necessary savings.