The Brunel UCU Branch Notes:

• On 20 November 2024, the Brunel UCU Branch voted to formally declare a dispute with Brunel University of London over plans to put 120 academics and 79 professional services staff at risk of redundancy, with future plans expected to put hundreds of additional professional services staff at risk of redundancy
• In “consultation” meetings between the unions and Brunel senior management, Brunel senior management has not only failed to rule out compulsory redundancies, but also refused to seriously consider viable alternatives to compulsory redundancies that tackle short-term financial issues with long-term solutions that preserve jobs and build upon (rather than tear down) Brunel’s academic, technical, and administrative infrastructure. This reflects a lack of engagement by Brunel University of London in either meaningful consultation or genuine negotiation, violating sections 188 and 178 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Consolidation Act 1992 (TULRCA), as well as the University’s own cross-union Recognition Agreement that cites those sections of TULRCA.
• Throughout the “consultation” period and thereafter, Brunel’s approach to the planned redundancy has been characterised by repeated violations of ACAS guidance, as well as Brunel’s own Change Management Policy and Redundancy Policy. This not only makes a mockery of Brunel’s own governance processes, but also undermines the statutory purpose of consultation as a means to discuss and seek agreement with employees on ways to avoid or reduce redundancies and reduce the impact of redundancy on affected employees.

The Brunel UCU Branch Believes:

• The current redundancy plans by Brunel University of London reflect an unprecedented assault on staff that will negatively impact Brunel’s operational effectiveness, reputation, and student experience for years to come.
• Brunel senior management’s blatant disregard of the TULCRA, Brunel’s Trade Union Recognition Agreement, ACAS guidance, and their own HR policies sets a worrying precedent not just for Brunel, but for UK HE more widely.

The Brunel UCU Branch Resolves:

• To carry out an online ballot (consistent with UCU’s Censure and Academic Boycott Policy) about whether Brunel should be added to the national UCU’s list of greylisted institutions. Greylisting as a sanction would include but not be restricted to:
o not applying for any advertised jobs at Brunel
o not agreeing to speaking at or organising academic or other conferences at Brunel
o not accepting new invitations to give talks or lectures at Brunel
o not accepting new positions as visiting professors or researchers at Brunel
o not accepting invitations outside of contract to write for any academic journal which is edited at or produced by Brunel
o not accepting new contracts as external examiners for taught courses at Brunel