Save London Metropolitan University

UCU and UNISON are campaigning to save London Metropolitan University from management plans to cut at least 330 jobs.

London Metropolitan University has recently had a cut of £18 million in its teaching budget and HEFCE has confirmed that it intends to 'claw back' £38 million in past funding as a result of inaccurate returns on student completion rates.

London Metropolitan's managers have responded to this crisis by stating that they are seeking to cut at least 330 jobs. So far, they have also failed to consult meaningfully with staff or unions about the crisis or the future of the university.

UCU members at London Metropolitan are outraged that managers at London Metropolitan, who previously attempted to de-recognise the union, are now planning to punish staff for what appear to be massive management failings. We also note that London Metropolitan's response compares unfavourably with that of other London higher education institutions who have sought to deal with serious cuts in funding, for which they were not responsible, without slashing staff jobs.

UCU believes that the proposed programme of job cuts would throw the entire future of the university into doubt at a time when education and training are seen to be vital to the capital's economic health, as well as further undermining efforts to widen participation in London's higher education institutions.

We are calling on HEFCE to ensure London Metropolitan's funding and on the University management to reverse the proposed job cuts and engage in meaningful consultation with staff and unions to explore the options for savings that do not involve redundancies.

The core objectives of the campaign are:

• a fresh start for London Met - including a thorough and independent review of current governance
• open the books - a thorough investigation into the current financial crisis
• seek sustained funding
• no redundancies
• no deterioration of terms and conditions or workloads
• no victimisation of union members

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. Join the mass lobby of the London metropolitan governors' meeting
   
   On Wednesday 28 January the Governors of London Metropolitan will be meeting at the Holloway Road campus, Tower building. UCU and UNISON are planning a joint mass lobby. Please do everything you can to join them from 4pm – bring your banners, bring your colleagues. For more information please contact Justine Stephens.
   
   location map
2. Sign the petition
   
   please sign the joint UCU/UNISON petition now

From the the UCU website: http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3680