Protest planned against compulsory redundancies at Cardiff Metropolitan University

The protest is set to occur outside Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Llandaff campus against potential compulsory redundancies.

The demonstration will take place tomorrow (Thursday 22nd May), and will consist of a gathering of students and staff between 11:30am and 12:30pm

UCU states that despite the February funding boost of £1.73m, out of the £19m to support universities across Wales, from the Welsh Government, Cardiff Met continues the proposal to cut 14 per cent of their workforce which was notified in April.

However, according to Cardiff Met, the funding at hand aims to help universities across Wales “meet capital costs associated with estate maintenance and digital projects to reduce operating costs, while also improving environmental sustainability. This work, when undertaken, will allow us to make more savings in the future”.

The shift to compulsory redundancies follows after three rounds of voluntary severance schemes.

Cardiff Met’s statement published at the start of the redundancy consultation stated: “We have recently closed a final voluntary severance scheme, which, alongside a range of other measures aimed at reducing our pay and non-pay costs, has helped minimise the number of compulsory redundancies we need to make.”

via Google Earth

Owen Stickler, a senior lecturer in animation, expressed his concern about the redundancies and how they would impact “staff workload and morale as well as being detrimental to the student experience”.

According to Nation Cymru, there are concerns due to the inevitable larger scale classes, and therefore limited one-to-one time between students and educators.

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The stress of staff wellbeing and morale has been highlighted as UCU member Gethin Thomas, who said: “This situation is affecting morale and goodwill among the staff, something which has always considered to be very important working at Cardiff Met.”

In its statement, the university explained: “This consultation will genuinely seek the unions’ and our colleagues’ collective feedback before any proposals are finalised. We are encouraging staff to share their views and access the range of support we have made available during this unsettling and difficult time.”

A statement to The Cardiff Tab, a university spokesperson said: “Cardiff Metropolitan University, like many universities across the UK, is working hard to safeguard its long-term financial sustainability in the face of changing contexts for higher education in the UK. We are doing this so that we can continue to make a positive difference to individuals and communities in Wales and the wider world through our progressive and distinctive teaching, research and innovation.

“We know that this is an uncertain and difficult time for all staff, and especially for those who are directly affected. We value the relationship that we have with our recognised trades unions and the contribution that they make to our university, and we fully respect the rights of trades unions to act on behalf of their members. We are committed to open, constructive dialogue and will continue working closely with all recognised trade unions and their representatives throughout this challenging period.”

Featured image via Google Earth