UCU launches petition following redundancy threats

The University and College Union (UCU) has launched a petition against setting financial targets for researchers following the threat of compulsory redundancies within Warwick Medical School (WMS).

WMS staff were told in November that selected individuals who did not garner an average of £90,000 per year in research income (or £150,000 as co-investigators) would be placed at a higher risk of redundancy.

20 jobs have been placed “at risk”, with Readers, Associate Professors and Professors all officially under increased scrutiny. Concessions have been made for staff with primarily teaching-based roles.

The launch of the petition follows the firing of two members of staff from the School of Life Sciences in July, after missing research targets of £75,000 per annum.

Dennis Leech, president of the Warwick UCU branch, attacked the financial incentives in a recent letter, likening the plan to putting academics “in a similar position to market traders in the City, who are judged solely on the amount of money they raise”.

David Colquhuon, Emeritus Professor at University College London, added that he feared academics would be pushed to “massage data”, and to do the most expensive research possible – at which taxpayers should be “outraged”. Prof Colquhuon added that academics would be “terrified at being cast onto the streets”.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of financial targets on the mental health of staff following the death of Imperial Professor Stefan Grimm. Prior to his death, Prof Grimm had been told he was being made redundant after to failing to meet an average financial stipulation of £200,000 per year.

Speaking to the Boar, Peter Dunn, Warwick University Director of Press and Policy stated: “Staff at Warwick Medical School were made aware in the summer that the University was concerned that WMS was operating significantly below its financial targets, particularly in research income.”

“The University is working with WMS to help rebalance their plans to ensure they have a strong and sustainable future.”

“In order to secure the long-term viability of WMS there will have to be a reduction in staffing levels. The University hopes to achieve any required reduction in staffing levels through voluntary means.”

Final decisions are expected on the redundancies in March.