Fewer jobs will go and nursery stays open at university
THE number of potential redundancies at a Welsh university has dropped by more than half after it was originally thought more than 100 jobs could go.
The University of South Wales (USW) blamed Brexit and student grant cuts for a fall in student applications.
A 45-day consultation with staff and unions on making a proposed 139 redundancies across all four of its faculties and support departments in Cardiff, Treforest and Newport campuses came to an end last month.
Those losses would have represented 4.6% of the university’s workforce.
But the university announced on Monday that the number of potential redundancies has now dropped by more than half to 57, due to a voluntary scheme and changes to the proposal. The figure represents 1.9% of the workforce.
It also announced that the university’s nursery will not close after its future was in doubt.
A spokesman for the University of South Wales said: “Universities across the UK are affected by the combination of a shrinking market, with fewer students looking to go to university, together with uncertainty affecting recruitment of overseas students.
“Many others are having similar conversations with their staff.
“We’ve engaged across USW and carefully assessed more than 470 responses from colleagues and student union representatives. We’ve listened and changed key elements of the original proposals, particularly protecting our students’ experience and their learning and teaching.
“As a family friendly university we’re delighted options have developed meaning our nursery won’t close, and we’re in good discussions taking forward our preferred option for a sustainable operating model.”
He said the university had done its best to avoid and minimise compulsory redundancies.
He added: “Through our voluntary scheme and changes to the proposals, the number of potential redundancies has now reduced by more than half to 57. Although this now represents only 1.9% of the university’s staff and the changes are necessary to ensure USW continues investing in its future, we remain very mindful of what it means for the individual colleagues affected.”
Public services union, Unison has hailed the news as a victory for ‘people power.’
Unison branch secretary Dan Beard said: “The crèche was set to close and it only has a future because people stood up and told the university its proposals were wrong and closure would damage the university and damage the local economy. Concern remains that the university will privatise the nursery and inevitably a new owner will look to make savings by squeezing the pay, terms and conditions of members of staff.
“These hard-working nursery staff must be paid decently. We can’t have a nursery and quality care for young children on the cheap.”
Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd said: “I welcome the university’ decision to continue to provide a childcare centre at the Treforest campus, which will ensure that access to education is maintained for those students with children.
“The decision illustrates that the university is working constructively with stakeholders and I would encourage the dialogue with Trades Unions and others to continue.”