Union attacks cutbacks

Tony Ballantyne.
Tony Ballantyne.
The New Zealand Tertiary Education Union (TEU) has slammed proposed cuts to five University of Otago humanities departments.

A letter from the TEU to University of Otago humanities division pro-vice-chancellor Prof Tony Ballantyne said the union rejected ''in its entirety'' the redundancy process ''being imposed'' on the division.

The letter was sent following a meeting involving union members from both the humanities division and other university staff on Friday, August 12.

Dunedin TEU organiser Shaun Scott said the union was concerned about the pace at which the process was happening.

Earlier this month, Prof Ballantyne told heads of department in English and linguistics, anthropology and archaeology and languages and cultures a redundancy process would be initiated ''in the coming weeks''.

He did not know how many jobs would be cut, but said 15 to 20 was a ''ball park figure''.

The cuts were necessary because of a ''sustained decline'' in the division since 2010 and would happen by November, Prof Ballantyne said.

In the union's letter, Mr Scott said a two-week consultation period for staff in the affected departments was ''demonstrably inadequate'' given the impact the changes would have.

The letter, sent on August 15 said the haste with which job losses were expected to occur did not leave time to consider options.

Such options included reviewing staffing numbers once all staff across the division who wanted to take early retirement and voluntary severance had done so, and once roll growth in the division had been assessed.

This year, enrolments in first-year humanities offerings were up 80 equivalent full time students on 2015.

''The decision to proceed with further reductions appears not to take into account the increase in first year enrolments across the university and in humanities,'' Mr Scott said.

It was possible the first-year growth was the beginning of a general stabilisation of the division, Mr Scott said.

The union was also critical of a ''lack of information'' given to staff in departments facing cuts.

''Members have said they are uncertain why their department was chosen over another department.

''The five departments have been given a brief overview of the discrepancy between income and expenditure but they don't know how they compare to other departments in the division.''

The union had not yet received a response from Prof Ballantyne, but expected one soon, Mr Scott said.

Prof Ballantyne said the university would extend the timeframe to consult on each redundancy proposal from two to three weeks in response to the TEU's request.

''This reflects our commitment to genuine consultation.''

It was a mistake to think the university did not value humanities, he said.

''The division itself has to respond to changing circumstances in order to protect the vitally important research and teaching our staff undertake.''

A union organised protest against the proposed cuts would be held on the university campus today.

The rally reflected the ''passion and commitment'' humanities staff had for their intellectual work, Prof Ballantyne said.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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