Birmingham City University staff are threatening to strike over the institution’s restructuring plans.
Union members have recently put Birmingham City University under fire as a result of plans to restructure 36 academic leadership positions.
This announcement from the university comes after various universities, such as Cardiff, face job cuts under financial pressure.
The restructuring is believed to begin at the end of July, and is part of Birmingham City University’s Strategy 2030, which highlights a lean towards teaching rather than researching positions.
The vice-chancellor of Birmingham City University, David Mba, communicated to staff of the institution’s future plans to open a voluntary severance scheme. He said:
The vice-chancellor emailed staff saying: “I know the vast majority of you are positive about BCU’s direction, and I will enjoy working with you in the months and years ahead.
“However, I do appreciate that the clarity our new strategy brings, including the need to focus on the performance of our teaching and student outcomes, and the imminence of a major change agenda, may not align with all colleagues’ views, or their professional aspirations.”
He continued by saying it is “imperative” that everyone at the university is “wholly committed to the plans”, adding: “We are now operating in an environment in which change – whether economic, regulatory or the level of competition we face – is ever-present, and where the expectations of our students will only increase. Our 2030 strategy is about ensuring BCU can take on these multiple challenges and thrive, giving our students the experience they need and deserve.
“To anyone who has doubts about the way we need to work – focused on the highest standards and, arising from this, a necessary culture of accountability – I want to acknowledge your contribution to BCU up until now and respectfully encourage you to consider this scheme very carefully, as a positive opportunity.”
The University and College Union (UCU) has commented on the university’s plans, stating the it has to work with staff to prevent future redundancies. If Birmingham City University does not comply with these demands, the union has stated the BCU may “face the prospect of industrial action”.
In response to the UCU’s comments regarding staff redundancies, a Birmingham City Spokesperson told the Birmingham Tab: “BCU has launched a consultation related to the proposed changes to our academic structures, which are aimed at prioritising students in everything we do.”
The general secretary of the UCU, Jo Grady, has responded to BCU’s future plans: “The university must urgently stop its attack on jobs, which risks doing irreparable damage to the institution’s research capabilities.”
The UCU has claimed that the university’s proposal to lay off 36 academic leadership positions will affect the university’s research position on the UK leaderboard, and also increase workload for remaining staff members not affected by this scheme.
A Birmingham City University spokesperson said to The Birmingham Tab: “On the topic of research, the Vice-Chancellor has been very clear. In meetings with staff, he has delivered a consistent and simple message – BCU is ‘teaching intensive and research ambitious’. This message – which has already had a very positive reception from many colleagues – will not change.”
The spokesperson later goes on to say: “We expect the proposals will impact around one per cent of BCU’s staff, at a time when a growing number of UK universities are unfortunately announcing significant compulsory job losses.”
Birmingham Live reported that it viewed a letter which states that staff who take up the voluntary severance scheme could get a payout of up to six months of their salary.
According to the publication, an insider has explained that the offer made by BCU has been positive from staff who view the offer of six months payout as generous. However, some staff have felt worried regarding the voluntary redundancies, believing if there isn’t enough voluntary redundancies, they may become compulsory in the future.
In helping those who are voluntarily taking redundancy, Birmingham City University’s spokesmen added: “We will continue to engage in meaningful consultation until 3rd April – as part of an overall five-month process – and will work closely with the small number of staff whose roles are being reviewed to offer them alternative opportunities where appropriate, should our plans be implemented. Staff that are impacted will have the option to revert to teaching posts.”
In response to the threat of industrial action, a Birmingham City University spokesmen has said to Times Higher Education, its plans in July are “aimed at prioritising students in everything we do”.
Adding: “We expect the proposals will impact around 1 per cent of the university’s staff, at a time when a growing number of universities are unfortunately announcing significant compulsory job losses.”
“We received UCU’s notification of dispute three days before the formal launch of the consultation process, despite the union having been given a clear commitment from the university that we will engage in meaningful consultation between now and 3rd April, as part of an overall five month process.”
