North Lancashire Green Party (NLGP) stands with the Lancaster University branches of the University and College Union (UCU), Unison and Unite The Union, in calling for the threat of compulsory redundancies to be withdrawn.
We share the unions’ concern that the proposal to cut around one in four academic and professional services posts at the University has been made by the Senior Management without transparency, meaningful consultation, or demonstrable consideration of alternative ways to improve financial sustainability.
The University workforce has already been reduced significantly over the last four years, taking a heavy toll on the stress levels and mental health of remaining staff. We are deeply concerned about the impact that a further huge reduction in staffing levels would have on students’ education, staff workloads and morale, and the local economy and community.
For the benefit of the whole community of the district, we call on the University’s Senior Management to halt the compulsory redundancy process. We call for co-operative work with the trade unions, students’ union and all those bodies that represent and support the university community to build trust, share relevant information and develop alternative proposals for reducing costs and liabilities.
If this does not happen and union members vote to take strike action, NLGP will offer our support in solidarity with strikers and students.