Supreme Court decides Stirling staff redundancies broke law

Stirling University broke the law by firing fixed term staff without consulting unions, according to a ruling by the Supreme Court.

The court heard uni officials had carried out the necessary steps with permanent staff members but not with those on fixed term contracts.

The outraged staff members affected by this decision have been fighting it for six years. Their case will now be referred back to employment tribunals, and the university may have to pay them compensation.

University and College Union’s Sally Hunt has blasted Stirling for its “hire and fire culture” and said: “Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is vindication of the union’s determination that fixed-term workers should be on an equal footing with their permanent colleagues.

“It has taken six years but now the highest court in the land has agreed with us that these workers should not have been subjected to the hire and fire culture that the University of Stirling believed was appropriate for them at that time.

“We are optimistic today’s decision will have financial implications for fixed-term staff at other universities who were part of claims we have lodged. We will continue to campaign to have the law reversed so casual staff in our universities are afforded much better protection.”

Stirling’s history of staff redundancies has been controversial. Second year Dave Mundt told the Tab: “Six years on, it’s good news to hear former workers at the university have had a minor victory.

“The issue of job losses, contracts and pay is not an issue exclusive to the University of Stirling, however.

“Senior management have a duty to properly consult workers and unions when job losses are being sanctioned.

“I am still confused as to why these redundancies were sanctioned at a time when the university spent around £140,000 renovating the Principal’s plush pad.

It’s time for uni chiefs to be open and transparent and to not only engage with the workforce, but also the student body.”