UCU Left - Stop the cuts at Dundee University

The UCU Left is a national organisation of University and College Union activists. It is committed to ensuring that the new union has a democratic structure through which members can determine policy, and elected officers and professional officials can be held accountable. It seeks to defend educational equality, and to oppose the consequences of neo-liberal marketisation. It is opposed to all forms of racism, sexism, oppression and imperialism.

Stop the cuts at Dundee University

*** Victory over compulsory redundancies *** - read here

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By Carlo Morelli (Dundee UCU - LA President)

Dundee staff and students lobbying the university's governing body against the cuts

Dundee University joint campus unions are horrified that the proposed suggestions that four academic units (Town and Regional Planning, Modern Languages, Community Education and Continuing Education) and three central services (Library, Estates and Buildings and Research & Innovation) are to be targeted for the first round of cuts aimed at achieving a total of £4.3m savings in expenditure.

The current proposals will reduce the access and quality of University education to the wider community of Dundee and its surrounding areas. The unions believe the University should be seeking to be part of the community and not cutting programmes and services which benefit the wider community. They further believe the University should be seeking to involve the campus unions and the wider community in a debate over the future security of the university.

These cuts will result in widespread redundancies and outsourcing of services to the private sector. The campus unions are unanimously opposed to privatisation of services and compulsory redundancies.

Finally, the joint campus unions are united in their view that they will vigorously campaign against these proposals, and are all deeply unhappy that the proposals were leaked to the press before informing both staff and the unions.

Full details are available at www.dundee.ac.uk/ducu

At a very well attended meeting of around 100 on Tuesday 30th January, which included students from threatened units, who wished to support us in our campaign. The following motion was passed unanimously, after an extremely useful and detailed discussion.

The meeting also proved to be very useful because many there made extremely helpful comments and suggestions which will help our campaign. Some of these suggestions came from specialist knowledge and understanding of the financial aspects of the debate, and these were of particular value. It was good to know that students see us all to be on the same side, and that the issue is not just about lecturers’ jobs. The students hope to use their rectorial election campaign to encourage further support. A number of councilors have also positively responded to our letter asking for their support.

Dundee University UCU - Latest News (click here)

The Courier - 'University staff may strike over cuts' (24/02/07)

Dundee University UCU - Request for Support (30/01/2007)