UNISON CALLS ON ULSTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION TO SAVE SERVICES & OUR MEMBERS’ JOBS
In advance of a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Ulster University Students Union (UUSU) tomorrow (Thursday 10th September), UNISON is deeply disappointed that the UUSU have entered a 30-day consultation process on redundancies for staff within their Jordanstown, Magee and Coleraine campuses. We are very concerned for our members’ jobs and we insist that UUSU must urgently take steps to protect their employment. Commenting on this development, UNISON Regional Organiser Marianne Buick said:
‘‘Our members are extremely anxious and fearful of what the next few weeks will bring. UNISON has previously successfully campaigned against our members jobs within UUSU being outsourced to the private sector. Having previously seen of that threat, we are alarmed that the workers are now being consulted on redundancies once more, this time on less favourable terms.
Previously staff who were facing redundancy were offered a 20% enhancement. It appears this redundancy offer is no longer on the table.
We have learned that instead if workers losing their jobs are to receive any enhancement, it will be at the discretion of the Board of Trustees. It seems the UUSU are using the implications of Covid-19 as an opportunity to shut down these vital services for the students, having tried and failed to do so in the past.
Currently the staff have been furloughed but they were hopeful that they would return to their jobs and were looking forward to getting the services back up and running for the intake of students at the end of September.
UUSU and its Board of Trustees should remember that many of the workers affected have given considerable service to Ulster University staff and students. UNISON is demanding the threat of redundancies is lifted and call for full engagement with us in negotiations on behalf of our members. UNISON is also calling on the Board of Trustees to do what is morally right for these workers and retain their jobs. At the very least they should ensure that workers receive the enhanced package previously offered.’’