UAL Unions condemn redundancies

by Matthew Sanderson & Petter Lundgren

Plans to cut posts as part of a restructuring of technical and administrative staff at London College of Communication (LCC) have been condemned by union members at the college. 

The review, titled ‘Supporting and Improving Course Organisation and Management’, was launched in 2008 and is to be implemented across University of the Arts London (UAL) by April 2012.

In December, students at LCC were also informed that 16 courses were being considered for closure in 2013 as a result of a review of its academic portfolio.

After discussing the proposed redundancies, a motion calling for Head of College, Professor Sandra Kemp to resign was passed at a joint trade union meeting on January 12. It reads:

“Her record demonstrates a complete lack of concern for protecting the future and quality of education here at LCC, combined with a cynical disrespect and disregard for the staff.”

Detrimental

Union representatives argue that the restructuring is detrimental to students and that staff members are worried that LCC is being affected more than other campuses. 

Natalie Brett, Dean of College at Camberwell, said: “We haven't got any redundancies at Camberwell, I do however have lots of new posts.” 

However at LCC, Head of College Sandra Kemp told ALN: “Around 20 posts across the university are regrettably expected to become redundant overall. Out of this total around 12 redundancies are expected at LCC.”

Affected members of staff who are not redeployed directly will have to apply for remaining positions. But some posts have been changed and there will be fewer left.

Kemp said that the reorganisation is being carried out to “improve student experience across all six colleges” and that it is not connected to funding cuts.

Benchmarking

“The aim is to reduce bureaucracy, release academic time for student-facing activities and provide a professionalised framework for administrators and technician staff,” explained Kemp. 

Lawrence Zeegen, Dean of LCC’s faculty of Design, recognised that the college is experiencing heavier restructuring than others. 

But he said that a “benchmarking project” – by external strategy consultants Tribal – found that; “against staff and student numbers, LCC, above all other colleges, was very highly staffed at admin level.”

Regarding the technical posts under review, Jackson Jessop, the head of technical services at the college, said: “There are some technical staff who aren’t doing a good enough job for students.”

Union representatives fear that more redundancies may follow, and question the amount of consultation they have had with management over the restructuring. 

Consultation

At the union meeting, Gary Horne, the University and College Union's chairman at the college, said: “None of us are being consulted in any way, shape or form.”

However, Kemp told ALN: “The University has been in discussions with its recognised trade unions since March 2011, and began formal consultations with them in December. It is now consulting and discussing next steps with affected staff.” 

There are further disagreements between members of staff and the management over the alleged disparity and lack of discussion between management and academic staff.

Carlton Boulter, a technician in the Film and Television department at LCC, said: “I consider the current restructuring as a purge of undesirable elements in both technical and academic staff.”

'Reassurances'

Other members of staff from departments affected by the restructuring, who do not want to be named at this point, told us that they feel “betrayed” by the management. 

Some claim that they received 'reassurances' in late 2011, when they say that they were promised that no posts would be cut, and that new staff would be employed.

Zeegen said that he appreciates the concerns and anxieties of staff members during the reorganisation, but that "the role of the management is to think five, ten, fifteen years down the road."

Individual consultations with staff members will be over in early February and proposed changes will start to come into effect in early April.