Passed at a quorate Emergency General Meeting 01.11.24:
Brunel UCU notes:
1. That all staff at Brunel University London received an email from the VC on the 24th of October introducing plans to make 130 FT academic positions redundant, reflecting a 14% reduction in academic staffing levels across the University, and that a section 188 notification was subsequently received Friday 25th of October.
2. That this plan specifically impacts the Brunel Business School, Economics and Finance, Brunel Law School, English and Creative Writing, Film and Television & Theatre, Education, Politics and History, Sociology, Communication & Journalism, Transdisciplinary Studies in Global Challenges, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, Biosciences & Life Sciences, and Psychology, and that overall within the targeted areas this plan reflects a 24.5% reduction in staffing levels, i.e. a loss of 1 in 4 FT academic positions.
3. That this plan intends for the redundancies to come into effect from March, midway through Semester 2.
4. That plans are also being developed to significantly reduce professional services staffing levels as part of the Target Operating Model (TOM)
Brunel UCU believes:
1. That the sudden announcement of these plans for academic redundancies without convincing justification has caused unnecessary stress and anxiety amongst Brunel staff.
2. That the lack of prior meaningful consultation with the Unions before these plans were announced to all staff is concerning and potentially in breach with the Trade Union Recognition Agreement.
3. That there has been insufficient exploration and willingness to consider options beyond redundancies by the University.
4. That there are significant doubts about the accuracy of the data used to justify both the areas targeted for redundancies and the extent of reduction of academic staffing levels within the targeted areas.
5. That the planned implementation of these redundancies midway through Semester 2 will significantly disrupt the quality of students’ education, and have a detrimental impact on the Health and Safety of remaining staff.
Brunel UCU demands:
1. A commitment from the University to agree Union representation at all stages and seek agreement with the Unions to any changes in working conditions.
2. A commitment from the University to avoid compulsory redundancies, and that if cost savings are necessary, that the University prioritises all mechanisms to reduce pay and non-pay cost savings prior to redundancies.
3. A commitment from the University to be open, transparent, and honest in their communications with the Unions, and to provide all relevant and requested data within reasonable timeframes (within 2-3 working days).
4. A commitment from the University to ensure adequate facility time for the Unions
5. A commitment to equity and the equitable sharing of the impact of the current financial situation with university leadership. The higher salaries in the university structure should commit to proportionally share the current financial pressure.
6. A commitment to revise the logic of “growth”, that is proving unsustainable, not to mention unethical, in relation to attracting foreign students as more profitable demographic. This also links to the equity commitment of the university to decolonising, which is clearly in contrast with the international project of spin-offs and poaching of international students.
7. A commitment from the University to address EDI issues in a serious and informed way in consultation with the union in accordance with the 2010 Equality Act.