More than 1,000 Cardiff University academic staff will receive letters today telling them their jobs are still at risk as a consultation on sweeping cuts continues. The university said it was now looking at 355 rather than 400 job losses with 45 people leaving through voluntary redundancy.
Plans to open a branch of Cardiff University in Kazakhstan later this year may save some jobs, the university’s director of people and culture, Sally-ann Efstathioua said, although she stressed that no-one would be forced to relocate to the central Asian country.
One member of staff, whose job is still at risk, described the mood on campus as "grim and angry". Former Education Minister Leighton Andrews said the university should have used some of its reserves to cushion the blow. You can read more about the proposed cuts and pressures on Welsh universities here
Cardiff University proposed cuts
In a message to staff the university’s director of people and culture, Sally-ann Efstathiou said: "This week we are informing colleagues currently in the in-scope pool for redundancy if they remain in-scope or are now out of scope. I know and recognise that being in-scope is very worrying and unsettling for colleagues.
"At the beginning of this process, 1,800 colleagues were in this pool. We are now able to remove just under 400 colleagues based on the related principles."
She said the number of voluntary redundancy applications showed that: as of November 1, 45 staff had left the university through its voluntary severance scheme, meaning the reduction in staffing proposed had moved from 400 to 355. The university has also had another 69 applications for voluntary redundancy going through the approval process.
"We will also be looking at the number of empty posts from staff leaving as of November 1. Every time a staff member leaves us voluntarily, that will contribute to the proposed reductions of staffing." And she said the university's plans to open a branch in the capital of Kazakhstan later this year might reduce job cuts further. She stressed that "no staff will be made to relocate to Astana".
The letter to staff went on: "Our plans for Cardiff University Kazakhstan: we are working at pace to understand what the academic staffing needs might be; this may reduce the staff reductions that we have proposed for academic schools involved in the delivery of programmes. However, I want to reiterate no staff will be made to relocate to Astana."
Results of a ballot on possible strike action and action short of strike, which could result in a marking boycott, are due next week. The University and College Union is fighting the cuts which have also prompted criticism from world-leading academics and musicians, and former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, among others. You can read what Neil Kinnock had to say here.
Former Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, said: "‘The Cardiff University campus is a grim and angry place these days. Staff are afraid for their jobs but nervous about speaking out. The sad thing is, this was all avoidable. Cardiff University is not broke and it has sufficient cash and savings available to manage its way through its current problems without this slash and burn approach. A great university is being vandalised to suit some 1980s-style macho management dogma.".
The Cardiff UCU union branch also wants to see the university use some of its reserves to avoid job losses and such sweeping cuts. A spokesperson said: "It is heartbreaking to see that so many of our members remain at risk of losing their jobs, especially when these cuts are unnecessary and other options exist for a more gradual recovery drawing on the university's £188m of existing cash.
"We will continue to make this case until the number of "at risk" staff is zero, and if the university will not negotiate we will be forced into disruptive industrial action like strikes and marking boycotts. We are also worried that the university has linked future narrowing of the redundancy pool to its plans to open a branch in Kazakhstan this year.
"We have nothing against transnational education in principle, but the chequered history of Welsh universities engaging in international adventures suggests this kind of agreement should be approached very slowly, and with lots of caution to avoid the risk of reputational damage."
A Cardiff University spokesperson said there would be two further review points of how many jobs would go before the end of the 90 day consultation which began in January. He added that the proposals were subject to ongoing consultation and might change. "We will do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies. We are committed to working with our trade unions and keeping staff updated and supported."
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