Sussex University strike will not affect consultation, say bosses

7:00am Thursday 11th March 2010

By Rebecca Evans

A strike by university staff will have “no bearing” on the outcome of a consultation into proposed job cuts, according to bosses.

University of Sussex staff will stage a one-day walk-out next week in protest against plans to cut 115 jobs at the Falmer campus.

The university has submitted the proposals in a bid to save £5 million in 2010-11.

However a university spokesman said the walk-out would not affect a decision on the proposals.

He said: “As far as the university is concerned, we remain in meaningful consultation with all three campus unions, including UCU, and we have been since the end of November.

“This is not a ‘last chance’ meeting. UCU have created their own artificial deadline by choosing to call strike action for Thursday. That simply has no bearing on the timeline for consultation. The strike will have no bearing on the outcome of the consultation.”

The university is meeting University and College Union (UCU) representatives this morning as part of a continued consultation over the cuts.

The meeting is the last one scheduled between the two groups before the strike takes place on March 18.

The university senate will meet to discuss the proposals on Wednesday and the university council is due to make a final decision on March 26.

Paul Cecil, the UCU’s Sussex representative, said about one third of the life sciences department will lose their jobs under the current proposals.

However, the university said the reduction of the 24 posts will help plug a £3 million budget deficit in the department.

Paul Cecil, the UCU’s Sussex representative, said: “We will listen to anything the university has to say. We are asking them to consider mediation through ACAS and if they are willing to then of course we can take that back to members and ask if that is sufficient to call off action.

“It is a case of we are willing to talk but the talks have to be meaningful and moving forward.”

The university spokesman added: “We have actually worked very positively throughout the consultation with all three trade unions. Our consultation with all three unions has been focussed on ways in which the proposed redundancies could be avoided, reduced or mitigated.

“Our priority in relation to any strike would be to protect the interests of staff and students at the university and ensure that our teaching and research work of the university can continue.”