500 JOBS AXED AS CASH CRISIS HITS CAMPUS

From the Camden New Journal/ Islington Tribune:

Union voices fears for future of university reeling from £18m cut

LONDON Met University is to become Islington’s biggest victim of the recession so far with up to 500 redundancies announced this week.

Shocked staff have been told that job los­ses will be made equally between academic, administrative and support staff over a year following an £18million cut in the univer­sity’s government funding.

Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn is seeking urgent talks with higher education minister David Lammy amid claims by union officials of “financial mismanagement”.

Mr Corbyn said: “I will be seeking to save jobs as well as receive a commitment for the future of the university.”

Up to 500 full-time and part-time jobs, ­representing 14-20 per cent of the workforce, could disappear.

Staff will be asked to volunteer for redundancy this month but a large programme of compulsory job losses is expected later this year.

Unlike in the past when generous redundancy packages were agreed, staff are being told that only the basic statutory entitlements will be paid.

Read the rest (and comment) on the Camden New Journal/ Islington Tribune here.