[UCU is the largest trade union and professional association for
academics, lecturers, trainers, researchers and academic-related staff
working in further and higher education throughout the UK.]
From the Save Middlesex Philosophy website, post of 29 May 010, updated 31 May:
We had some great news on Friday: an emergency meeting of Middlesex
University’s UCU branch voted to condemn the disciplinary action against
staff and students, demand the immediate reinstatement of postgraduate
philosophy programmes and recruitment – and go into official dispute
with the management if the staff suspensions are not lifted by 12 noon
on Wednesday. The text of the motion reads as follows:
“1. This Branch demands that the suspensions of Philosophy staff be
immediately lifted as we consider them to be disproportionate,
intimidatory and inimical to meaningful negotiations. Unless we have
positive confirmation that they have been lifted by noon on Wednesday
2nd June, the Branch instructs the Branch executive to formally go into
dispute with the University
2. This Branch calls on the University to immediately reopen
provision of, and recruitment to, Philosophy postgraduate study
including PhDs.
3. As noted in the EGM of 12th May, this Branch has no confidence in
the rigour, appropriateness and consistency of the application of the
University’s procedures to determine sustainability. We further believe
that flaws in the process are having deleterious effects across the
University and any decisions to close or restructure subject provision,
programmes and centres made under this process will be unsafe. We
therefore call for an immediate review of the decision on Philosophy and
a review of the University’s decision-making processes for
sustainability.”
The meeting also passed an emergency motion for submission to The UCU
Congress which is currently taking place in Manchester.