UCU vows to fight job losses at University of Leeds

UCU has warned that hundreds of jobs could be risk at the University of Leeds after the university announced plans for a £35 million budget cut. The news comes after 52 staff, from the Faculty of Biological Sciences and School of Healthcare, left over the summer and the union has accused management of putting the university’s academic reputation at risk. UCU University of Leeds branch president, Malcolm Povey, said: “We believe that the vice-chancellor has a duty to defend the academic work of staff at the university. The proposed cuts could lead to hundreds of valuable staff being made redundant at time when the city, and the country, needs a strong higher education sector.

We will defend every job and oppose any threat of compulsory redundancies. Staff are the most important resource at any university and getting rid of huge numbers is not in the interests of the university, its students or the local community. Management needs to work with us during these tough economic times.” http://www.ucu.org.uk/4201

You can follow the campaign and support colleagues across the road by visiting their blog at: http://leedsucu.wordpress.com/