A UK university that suspended recruitment on to more than 100 of its courses has been threatened with strike action after staff accused leaders of “hiding in a bunker” instead of discussing the plans.
Officials at the University and College Union warned the University of Wolverhampton that they would be “left with no choice” but to call a ballot on potential industrial action if management continued to refuse to meet with them.
The suspension of at least 138 courses – the majority in performing arts, fashion, social sciences, interior design and fine art – could result in more than 20 redundancies, the union claimed, and on that basis the university had a statutory duty to consult with them but is yet to do so.
A long-planned meeting with the UCU was cancelled at short notice recently, and interim vice-chancellor Ian Campbell had not yet responded to any of the concerns raised in its correspondence, the UCU said.
