Reasons for our Local Dispute:
- Poor financial decision making
The university has a worrying budget deficit of £9 million pounds for this financial year (3% of total income). There has been excessive spending on new buildings e.g. Howard Street, costing over £200 million pounds. SHU also plans to open a satellite campus in Brent Cross, London. This is a risky venture which is already costing SHU money before students can be recruited in 2025. Management have prioritised buildings over people, overcommitted SHU’s budget, and we are all now paying the price for their poor decision making.
- Redundancies
To make cost savings over 140 staff have left via the University’s VS scheme and over 120 more have been served a ‘risk of redundancy’ letter. Further cost savings will also be made in Professional Services, which includes admin, tech and student support staff.
- Breach of the 2006 National Pay Framework Agreement
Savings are also being made via restructuring and re-grading of departments and staff. The removal of the grade 9 Principal Lecturer role and the introduction of a grade 6 Academic Tutor role is a direct breach of the national pay agreement. This is a degradation of teaching standards and inflicts reputational damage on the university’s position in the HE sector.
- New teaching delivery plan and Curriculum redesign
To reduce costs the university will be introducing the following proposals for teaching delivery:
- Larger credit bearing modules
- Less module choice and scope for subject specialisation due to larger generic modules and less staff
- Larger class sizes
- More online teaching sessions.
These issues affect all members, so we ask you to
VOTE YES IN OUR BALLOT FOR LOCAL STRIKE ACTION.
This provides us with the strongest possible negotiating position in the fight to defend jobs and working conditions.
Please update your membership details so that the ballot reaches you.