Please visit the UCUS website to read the official UCUS response to Project Headroom.
Friday 28 November 2008
More Pictures from the Lobby & ILS Update
Those people being made "voluntarily" redundant have now received their letters. Staff in ILS still under threat from Project "Headroom" have been invited to meetings to be informed of the next steps. None of the remaining staff want to leave, like all of those under threat, many have families and mortgages to pay, few are nearing retirement age.
Being made redundant from an IT post during a time of recession when many privatised industries are cutting back is causing stress amongst the remaining staff, and I am sure that this is also true of staff in the 2 affected Schools. We believe that the remaining staff losses could be made due to "natural wastage" ie not filling posts when staff leave and waiting for retirees to reach their retirement date, however the powers that be do not appear to want to consider this as an option.
If anyone has any information about what is happening on the ground, and how staff are feeling, in SBS and CHSSC please let us know.
In the meantime here are some more pictures from Wednesday night's lobby of the SBS Annual Lecture, showing the support from the Student Union.
Being made redundant from an IT post during a time of recession when many privatised industries are cutting back is causing stress amongst the remaining staff, and I am sure that this is also true of staff in the 2 affected Schools. We believe that the remaining staff losses could be made due to "natural wastage" ie not filling posts when staff leave and waiting for retirees to reach their retirement date, however the powers that be do not appear to want to consider this as an option.
If anyone has any information about what is happening on the ground, and how staff are feeling, in SBS and CHSSC please let us know.
In the meantime here are some more pictures from Wednesday night's lobby of the SBS Annual Lecture, showing the support from the Student Union.
Thursday 27 November 2008
Successful and well attended lobby against the redundancies during the Annual Business School Lecture to be given by Brendan Barber
Over 100 people turned out on a wet Wednesday evening to support the Lobby against Redundancies at the Allerton Building during the Business School Annual Lecture.
It was good to see both staff and students working together to defend higher education. The rally was also supported by representatives of the trade union movement including the Manchester Trades Council and the local community.
Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the Trades Union Council (TUC) addressed the rally as did local MP Ian Stewart (MP for Eccles). Brendan Barber said that he was aware of the situation at Salford and had just come from a meeting with all the Salford Unions.
Ian Stewart said that he come to attend the lecture and had only just become aware that large scale redundancies were taking place at his local University.
Both speakers pledged their supported of the Unions stand against compulsory redundancies, as did all the speakers.
Wednesday 26 November 2008
Explanation of Voluntary Redundancy Letter
A number of staff who have volunteered for redundancy have been very concerned about the following statement which was included in the letter which management have handed out today, and have asked us what it means.
‘at this stage, your acceptance is only provisional.
The reason for this is that the University is unable to progress any applications at this stage because the ongoing Collective Consultation process with the Trade Unions and they have requested that we put the Voluntary Severance process on hold’
The University has a statutory duty to consult with the unions. This consultation period does not end until mid January. Unfortunately, the University decided to start implementing the redundancy programme the day after it started consultation. Unfortunately, the consultations have not proceeded easily. It has taken us weeks to get financial information from management which we thought should be readily available. As a result, our consultations have been delayed. But even more worrying, the financial information we have received from the University, together with our own calculations have given us serious concerns about the concept of Project Headroom and also its implementation. Our detailed written reply to the University will be made available to members shortly. But in short we have serious concerns that the business plans for the two Schools will leave both Schools financially weaker and will result in further redundancies next year.
‘at this stage, your acceptance is only provisional.
The reason for this is that the University is unable to progress any applications at this stage because the ongoing Collective Consultation process with the Trade Unions and they have requested that we put the Voluntary Severance process on hold’
The University has a statutory duty to consult with the unions. This consultation period does not end until mid January. Unfortunately, the University decided to start implementing the redundancy programme the day after it started consultation. Unfortunately, the consultations have not proceeded easily. It has taken us weeks to get financial information from management which we thought should be readily available. As a result, our consultations have been delayed. But even more worrying, the financial information we have received from the University, together with our own calculations have given us serious concerns about the concept of Project Headroom and also its implementation. Our detailed written reply to the University will be made available to members shortly. But in short we have serious concerns that the business plans for the two Schools will leave both Schools financially weaker and will result in further redundancies next year.
Wednesday 12 November 2008
Staff Meeting
A general meeting of staff and students, organised by members of staff, was held in Mary Seacole Building. Members of staff that attended were not all union members. A number of union officials from UNISON and UCU attended in order to answer staff questions as far as they possibly could.
Both staff and students were angry about the proposed redundancies, particularly in the Faculty of Health and Social Care where most of them were based.
It was felt that good courses were being targeted that were currently making money for the University. For staff there seemed to be no financial reason for this. Students were worried that their quality of education would be adversely affected, particularly if there was to be increased casualisation of staffing.
Students have not been informed about the proposals and were only finding out through rumour, unofficial channels and the Manchester Evening News.
Staff have been attempting to make alternative proposals to their management, but have no evidence that any of these have been given serious consideration. Financial data has been requested by the unions, but has not been provided by the date agreed. Many staff feel that their jobs are being cut in order to fund the Media City (UK) move.
The staff at the meeting were very angry and are proposing to stage protests about the cuts and the way that the situation is being managed.
Both staff and students were angry about the proposed redundancies, particularly in the Faculty of Health and Social Care where most of them were based.
It was felt that good courses were being targeted that were currently making money for the University. For staff there seemed to be no financial reason for this. Students were worried that their quality of education would be adversely affected, particularly if there was to be increased casualisation of staffing.
Students have not been informed about the proposals and were only finding out through rumour, unofficial channels and the Manchester Evening News.
Staff have been attempting to make alternative proposals to their management, but have no evidence that any of these have been given serious consideration. Financial data has been requested by the unions, but has not been provided by the date agreed. Many staff feel that their jobs are being cut in order to fund the Media City (UK) move.
The staff at the meeting were very angry and are proposing to stage protests about the cuts and the way that the situation is being managed.
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Managing Director of Media City Quits
The following article appeared in last Thursday's Manchester Evening News.
Peel hunts a new boss for MediaCity
don frame
6/11/2008
BOSSES at MediaCityUK said today it was `business as usual', despite the shock of losing its managing director Brian Greasley.
The man brought in to oversee the setting up of the £500m complex at Salford Quays quit just a year after being appointed.
Peel Holdings, which owns the 200-acre site, said the 46-year-old entrepreneur, whom it headhunted, was `now looking forward to seeking new challenges', having done the job he was brought in to do.
The company said Mr Greasley had been brought in to create the vision for Media CityUK and establish an implementation team, `which he has successfully put in place'.
An inside source suggested that there had been a `mutual realisation' that he was perhaps not the best person to drive the project further forward.
He said: "He had vision, but there was a feeling that his relationship with big public-sector organisations, including the Salford Regeneration Company, was not close enough, and that he needed to network more with people, an aspect of the job that he appeared not to like."
He said there had been hopes that, by now, key players from the private sector might have been lured to MediaCity, where the only anchor tenant so far is the BBC.
It is understood that attempts have been made to interest big media hitters in the United States, with a view to their establishing a base at the Quays, but with little success.
Neither the Salford Regeneration Company nor the North West Development Agency, both closely involved in the project, had any comment to make on Mr Greasley's departure. The Peel statement says that Mr Greasley's strategic responsibilities will be taken temporarily by Andrew Simpson, the group managing director of Peel Holdings, supported by the team of specialists already recruited by Peel.
Mr Simpson said: "Over the last 12 months, Brian has done a first-class job in setting out the vision for MediaCityUK, and establishing a high-quality operational team. I would like to thank Brian personally for all his efforts and wish him well for the future."
He went on: "We will be seeking a replacement for Brian in due course, who will focus on the next phase of the project, as well as implementing the ongoing programme of strengthening the MediaCityUK team."
Salford Council leader John Merry, who has been closely involved in the development plans for the project, said: "I understand that Brian feels that he has taken the development as far as he can, and now wishes to move on and do something else. He has got it off the ground, and now that it is up and running, he wants other challenges."
Father of four Mr Greasley, who was born in Plymouth, outlined his hopes for the development in January, pledging to make the hi-tech Salford centre `the new Silicon Valley'.
Peel hunts a new boss for MediaCity
don frame
6/11/2008
BOSSES at MediaCityUK said today it was `business as usual', despite the shock of losing its managing director Brian Greasley.
The man brought in to oversee the setting up of the £500m complex at Salford Quays quit just a year after being appointed.
Peel Holdings, which owns the 200-acre site, said the 46-year-old entrepreneur, whom it headhunted, was `now looking forward to seeking new challenges', having done the job he was brought in to do.
The company said Mr Greasley had been brought in to create the vision for Media CityUK and establish an implementation team, `which he has successfully put in place'.
An inside source suggested that there had been a `mutual realisation' that he was perhaps not the best person to drive the project further forward.
He said: "He had vision, but there was a feeling that his relationship with big public-sector organisations, including the Salford Regeneration Company, was not close enough, and that he needed to network more with people, an aspect of the job that he appeared not to like."
He said there had been hopes that, by now, key players from the private sector might have been lured to MediaCity, where the only anchor tenant so far is the BBC.
It is understood that attempts have been made to interest big media hitters in the United States, with a view to their establishing a base at the Quays, but with little success.
Neither the Salford Regeneration Company nor the North West Development Agency, both closely involved in the project, had any comment to make on Mr Greasley's departure. The Peel statement says that Mr Greasley's strategic responsibilities will be taken temporarily by Andrew Simpson, the group managing director of Peel Holdings, supported by the team of specialists already recruited by Peel.
Mr Simpson said: "Over the last 12 months, Brian has done a first-class job in setting out the vision for MediaCityUK, and establishing a high-quality operational team. I would like to thank Brian personally for all his efforts and wish him well for the future."
He went on: "We will be seeking a replacement for Brian in due course, who will focus on the next phase of the project, as well as implementing the ongoing programme of strengthening the MediaCityUK team."
Salford Council leader John Merry, who has been closely involved in the development plans for the project, said: "I understand that Brian feels that he has taken the development as far as he can, and now wishes to move on and do something else. He has got it off the ground, and now that it is up and running, he wants other challenges."
Father of four Mr Greasley, who was born in Plymouth, outlined his hopes for the development in January, pledging to make the hi-tech Salford centre `the new Silicon Valley'.
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