AUT (UK) calls for Australian support in campaign against victimisation at
SUPPORT OUR BRITISH COLLEAGUES AND SIGN THE PETITION TODAY
The Association of University Teachers (AUT) is one of the two unions representing academic and professional staff in British Universities. It is calling on all higher education colleagues to cut any voluntary ties with Brunel University in West London in protest at its drive to force compulsory redundancy on academic staff. Brunel University has issued compulsory redundancy notices to at least two academics in a long running dispute over the university’s wish to sack 60 faculty staff.
One of those today issued with a notice of redundancy is Alan Harrison, local AUT President. Mr Harrison has been a long standing campaigner against the university's plans.
The dispute centres on the university's wish to sack those academics who are considered to, in their view, 'overteach' (ie. spend too much time with) their students and not spend enough time doing research. After months of attempting to reach a negotiated solution during which many of those targeted have been bullied into accepting 'voluntary' terms, AUT agreed last month to ask the international academic community to pursue a policy of non-cooperation with Brunel University on joint research, conferences, external examinations and other collaborative work. This is known as 'greylisting'.
The university's decision to make staff compulsorily redundant follows a commitment given only one month ago by the Brunel Vice Chancellor, Steven Schwartz (former Murdoch University VC and recently appointed to Macquarie) in a letter to the AUT general secretary, Sally Hunt stating: 'I believe it is possible for the University’s strategy to be achieved without the need for compulsory redundancies and that a negotiated settlement to the current dispute can be found… '
AUT General secretary Sally Hunt said: 'I am appalled by the manner in which Brunel University is treating its staff and in particular this unjustified, direct attack on members of our union.
'The university’s latest attack on hard working academics indicates that they prefer conflict to negotiation. Brunel is already a byword for appalling employment practices in the university sector. AUT will now redouble its efforts to ensure that this university remains a pariah in the international academic community, until such time as it changes its attitude to its staff.
Click here to find out how to support the campaign, to sign the petition, or leave a message of support, and for further information.
http://www.aut.org.uk/greylistbrunel