MPs voice concern at university jobs threat

BRADFORD’S THREE MPs have called on the city’s university to halt plans to make more than 100 staff redundant.

Vice-chancellor Brian Cantor, in a letter to staff last month, warned that about 165 jobs could be lost amid a “tough” operating environment and a fall in applications.

“This leaves us with a significant financial challenge,” he warned, resulting in “significant” cost reductions and a major drive to grow international student numbers.

Labour MPs Imran Hussain, Judith Cummins and Naz Shah have backed the union Unison, which has notified the university that it will ballot members for industrial action.

In a letter to Prof Cantor, Mr Hussain expressed his concern at the effect the job losses could have on the local economy, saying potential investors in the city would see “a key player in the Bradford Economic Partnership imposing redundancies and diminishing confidence”.

Unison Regional Organiser Leonie Sharp said: “We are delighted that the MPs are backing us and pointing out the dire economic effects of the proposed redundancies, both now and well into the future.”

A spokesperson for the University of Bradford said: “Informal and formal consultation with staff has been ongoing since the beginning of June, running alongside a series of town hall sessions available for all staff to ask questions and seek reassurance.”