‘Ripple of shock’ over cuts

Shaun Scott.
Shaun Scott.
A "ripple of shock" went through the room as University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne revealed plans to cut 182 jobs.

Tertiary Education Union organiser Shaun Scott said the people  packed into the College of Education auditorium were "a little bit stunned" when they learned of the extent of the cuts.

"As that number came through ... a ripple of shock went through the room.

"The room, I found, went demonstrably quiet as well," Mr Scott said.

Stress levels  had been high among general staff since the university started its review of their positions about two years ago.

They would only climb higher as most would only find out next year whether their own jobs would be cut.

Given the planned cuts were expressed in terms of full-time-equivalent staff, significantly more faced losing their jobs as many  of them were part-time, Mr Scott said.

The union would take Prof Hayne at her word that the university genuinely wanted feedback on its plan, but in his experience total numbers of jobs cut did not change much as a result of consultation.

The union and many staff were not opposed to the university spending hundreds of millions on its building programme and accepted the need for buildings to be upgraded to ensure they were safe, modern and appropriate.

However, the amount spent on landscaping did rub some staff the wrong way.

The recently announced logo review also prompted some concern.

"While that might not be a significant cost, it really just sends a message to people.

"And it leaves staff broadly, but general staff in particular, feeling undervalued."

Very few staff  were willing to speak to the media after the meeting, but some shared their views on how it went.

Dr Harold Bernhardt, an academic staff member whose job is not within the scope of the cuts, said the process had been "unsettling" for everybody at the university.

"I think the university has lost all its goodwill over the process.

"I think the university staff in general feel as though a decision was made back in 2015," Dr Bernhardt said.

They felt any consultation was done for the sake of "ticking a box" and their concerns had not been listened to.

Prof Hayne did her best to answer questions at the meeting, but was also "quite defensive and a bit snarky at times" in some of her responses, Dr Bernhardt said.

Victor Billot, who works at Otago University Press, which is also not within the scope of the cuts, said there was a "subdued" mood at the meeting.

Some "sharp questions" were asked of Prof Hayne and  some staff  were clearly unhappy with the process, Mr Billot said.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

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