The restructuring events database contains factsheets with data on large-scale restructuring events reported in the principal national media and company websites in each EU Member State. This database was created in 2002.
Strathclyde University has announced plans to shed 250 jobs over the next three years. It said it needed to make savings of 10 million GBP to pay for higher salaries, pensions and fuel bills. The university principal, Professor Andrew Hamnett, said the posts would be cut through voluntary redundancies and natural wastage. The University and College Union (UCU) said it was concerned there could be compulsory redundancies. It also suggested that university leaders should wait until they hear what the next three-year Scottish Executive spending round would deliver. Prof Hamnett said the university generated a 9 million GBP surplus in 2005/06, repeating a trend which had seen a surplus in nine out of the last ten years. He also said old buildings would be replaced as part of a planned 250 million GBP capital investment programme. However, Prof Hamnett added that the cuts would help the university deal with increased costs, including a 17% increase in pay costs.
'It is far too early to speculate on which parts of the university will be affected,' he said.
'We will continue to liaise closely with staff and will consult with our campus trade unions to achieve the best outcome and to ensure that this process is carefully and sensitively managed.'
'If the issue of recurrent expenditure is not addressed, there is a real risk of Strathclyde's current healthy position being damaged irreparably in the long term.'
David Bleiman, UCU's Scottish official, said: "UCU is deeply concerned by Strathclyde University's announcement today.
'It is worrying that at a time when government in Scotland has been providing additional resources in recognition of the importance of higher education, Strathclyde is looking at substantive cuts in staffing of this order.'
'Whilst the university at this stage is not talking of compulsory redundancies, staffing cuts of this scale clearly raise concerns as to whether methods such as early retirement and voluntary severance or non replacement of staff will be sufficient to achieve the kinds of savings envisaged.'
Sources
29 January 2007: BBC News
Citation
Eurofound (2007), Strathclyde University, Internal restructuring in United Kingdom, factsheet number 64896, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/64896.
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